Guns International #: 102922381
Seller's Inventory #: 244064

Category - Civil War Revolvers - Colt Revolvers - Navy

Category
Civil War Revolvers
Colt Revolvers - Navy

8th IOWA CAVALRY PRESENTATION INSCRIBED CIVIL WAR Antique COLT M1861 NAVY Sidearm of Lt. CORNELIUS BENNETT Given by Newspapermen!

Description:
8th IOWA CAVALRY PRESENTATION INSCRIBED CIVIL WAR Antique COLT M1861 NAVY  

Sidearm of Lt. CORNELIUS BENNETT Given by Newspapermen!

Here we present an antique Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver Inscribed to 2nd Lt. Cornelius Bennett of the 8th Iowa Cavalry, made in 1864 in Hartford, Connecticut. The back strap on this example is inscribed “C. Bennett 2 Lt. 8th. Iowa Cav. From/the ‘Times Boys’”. An “8 IOWA” inscribed nickel-silver plaque is included. Cornelius Bennett was a first lieutenant in the 8th Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. This revolver's serial number and inscription (incorrectly transcribed) are noted on page 15 of Colt’s History and Heroes by John G. Hamilton.

The “Times Boys” refers to the newspapermen of The North Iowa Times—a title they confer on themselves throughout the periodical before, during, and after the American Civil War.

Cornelius Bennett (born 29 August 1827) was 36 years old when he enlisted and was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant on the 20th of March 1864. He mustered into the Iowa 8th Cavalry and was made Quartermaster. The 8th was very quickly sent to Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign and saw action with casualties and POWs, Lt. Bennett among them on the 30th of July 1864. He was released from captivity on the 16th of November 1864. According to Roster and Records of Iowa Soldiers, Colonel J.B. Dorr, fell suddenly ill and died. Dorr, a resident of Dubuque before the war, was a newspaperman himself and was formerly the editor and proprietor of the Jackson County Democrat, the Western Democrat and Common School Journal, and then the editor turned owner of the Dubuque Herald. He was a brave and forward-looking man who fought at Shiloh (with the 12th IA) and volunteered to raise his own regiment of cavalry (the 8th IA) at a time when the cause looked bleak and cavalry may not have been as appreciated as infantry. When Dorr died in Georgia it was Lt. Cornelius Bennett who accompanied his body home to Iowa, and we believe it may have been for this that the “Times Boys” presented this revolver to him.

Cornelius Bennett would muster out with his regiment in Macon, Georgia on 13 August 1865. He would go on to be one of the founders of Silver City, New Mexico, where he served as Judge, and was related to the Morrill family, also of that city. He was a Grand Master A.F. & A.M. He died 8 October 1911, aged 84.
The introduction of the 1861 Navy was simply an update to the very successful 1851 Navy, with the primary differences being the round barrel instead of octagonal, and the addition of the creeping style of loading lever. These updates made for a sleek package that very much resembled Colt’s crowning achievement, the 1860 Army. The 1861 Navy still retained its .36 caliber, making this the preferred firearm for many not wanting to step up to a .44 like the Army, while still sharing most of its dimensions.

The Colt Model 1861 Navy was formally adopted by the Union government and was used by both the Army and the Navy. Many of those sold to the military were never martially inspected or marked. Of course, there was a healthy commercial market for these during the war, and many soldiers privately purchased these revolvers as well. In a slightly smaller and lighter package than its 1860 Army big brother, many soldiers and cavalry preferred the Navy in .36 caliber.  Of course, these weapons continued to be used well after the Civil War, especially during Westward Expansion.

The overall condition is very good. Original patina. Still visible Battle of Campeche cylinder scene. Strong action. Good bore with nice rifling. Grip remains solid. Numbers match. Very nice inscription.

Newspaper clippings from the Daily Davenport Democrat Saturday April 23, 1864 page 1, Saturday September 17, 1864, The North Iowa Times Wednesday October 14, 1863.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 7-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .36 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

ancestryguns

$8500

#244064
 

Price: $8,500.00                     Buy Now

Antique: Yes