Civil War Period Silver Card Case Brought Home by F.M. Gibson, 40th Mass. Infantry

Civil War Period Silver Card Case Brought Home by F.M. Gibson, 40^th Mass. Infantry – This fine sterling silver, ornately engraved card case is hallmarked with a British silversmith’s mark, indicating the date of manufacture as 1856 – 1857. The case, which remains in excellent condition, exhibits finely executed floral and scroll decorative motifs, as well as a name on each side of the case; on one side is the engraved name “Julia A. Gibson”; on the opposite side is the name “Marion Y. Sanborn” and the date “1909”. When we obtained this case, we noticed that a piece of blue note paper was folded inside the case; upon removing this paper, we noticed the following description, dated Sept. 22, 1965, of the provenance of the case:

“Julia A. Gibson (Wentworth) was an aunt of Mable Young Spear, mother of Marion Young Sanborn, on the Wentworth side. Her husband, Fred Gibson, picked this silver case from the earth when he was a soldier in the Civil War. Aunt Julia gave it to Marion as a wedding present in 1909, and had the inscription engraved on it at the time.” At the bottom of the note, in a different hand, is written: “Made in Birmingham England in 1856 – 7 … Located maker in Old Silver Book.”

Frederick M. Gibson, who apparently rescued this case, from somewhere in the South, during the Civil War, was a carriage maker in Chelsea, Massachusetts and enlisted, as a private, in August of 1862, in Co. G of the 40^th Massachusetts Infantry. During his enlistment, Gibson would serve in the 40^th Mass. in the Battles of Cedar Creek, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg, as well at other engagements. He mustered out in June of 1865, at Richmond.

Frederick M. Gibson

40th MA Infantry
(3-years )

NAME: Frederick M Gibson

RESIDENCE: Massachusetts OCCUPATION: Carriage Maker AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 32

ENLISTMENT DATE:9 Aug 1862 RANK AT ENLISTMENT: Private STATE SERVED: Massachusetts SURVIVED THE WAR?:Yes BIRTH DATE:1830S OURCES: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War

40th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The 40th Massachusetts Infantry was organized at Camp Stanton in Lynnfield, Massachusetts beginning in August 1862, and mustered for a three-year enlistment on August 22, 1862 under the command of Colonel Burr Porter.

The regiment was attached 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, Military District of Washington, to February 1863. 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, XXII Corps, Department of Washington, to April 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, VII Corps, Department of Virginia, to May 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IV Corps, Department of Virginia, to July 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XI Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August 1863. 2nd Brigade, Gordon’s Division, South End of Folly Island, South Carolina, X Corps, Department of the South, to January 1864. 2nd Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Folly Island, South Carolina, Northern District, X Corps, Department of the South, January 1864. 1st Brigade, District of Hilton Head, South Carolina, X Corps, to February 1864. Light Brigade, District of Florida, Department of the South, to April 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, to May 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, XVIII Corps, to December 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, XXIV Corps, Department of Virginia, to June 1865.

The 40th Massachusetts Infantry mustered out of service June 16, 1865 and was discharged at Readville, Massachusetts on June 30, 1865.

Detailed service

Moved to Washington, D.C., September 8–11. Duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C., until April 1863. Expedition to Mill’s Cross Roads after Stuart’s Cavalry December 28–29, 1862. Picket duty on the Columbia Pike February 12 to March 30, 1863, and at Vienna until April 11. Moved to Norfolk, then to Suffolk April 15–17. Siege of Suffolk April 17 – May 4. Siege of Suffolk raised May 4. Moved to West Point May 5, then to Yorktown May 31. Raid to Jamestown Island June 10–13. Dix’s Peninsula Campaign June 24 – July 7. Expedition from White House to Bottom’s Bridge July 1–7. Baltimore Cross Roads July 2. Moved to Washington, D.C., July 10–11. March in pursuit of Lee, to Berlin, Md., July 13–22. Moved to Alexandria August 6, then sailed to Folly Island, South Carolina, August 7–13. Siege operations on Folly and Morris Islands against Forts Wagner and Gregg, and against Fort Sumter and Charleston, August 15 – November 13. Expedition to Seabrook Island November 13–15. Duty at Folly Island until January 16, 1864. Moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina, January 16. Expedition to Jacksonville, Florida, February 4–7, and to Lake City, Fla., February 7–22. Ten Mile Run near Camp Finnegan February 8. Barber’s Place February 10. Lake City February 11. Gainesville February 14 (Companies C, G, and H). Battle of Olustee February 20. McGirt’s Creek March 1. Cedar Creek March 1. Duty at Jacksonville until April 22. Moved to Gloucester Point April 22–28. Expedition to West Point April 30 – May 5. Butler’s operations on the south side of the James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 5–28. Swift Creek or Arrowfield Church May 9–10. Operations against Fort Darling May 12–16. Battle of Drewry’s Bluff May 14–16. On Bermuda Hundred Front May 17–28. Moved to White House, then to Cold Harbor May 28-June 1. Cold Harbor June 1–12. Before Petersburg June 15–18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864 to April 2, 1865. Hares Hill June 24 and 28. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (reserve). In the trenches before Petersburg until August 27. Moved to Bermuda Front August 27, then to Bermuda Landing August 28, and provost duty there until September 29. On the Bermuda Front until October 24. Moved to Chaffin’s Farm on north side of the James River, and duty there until March 1865. Expedition to Fredericksburg March 5–8, and up the Potomac River to the Yecomico, and to Kinsel’s Landing March 11–13, then to White House March 13–18. March to Signal Hill before Richmond March 24–26. Occupation of Richmond April 3. Moved to Manchester April 25 and provost duty there until June 16.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 197 men during service; 5 officers and 67 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 125 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

• Colonel Burr Porter
• Colonel Guy Vernor Henry

Notable members

• Private Frederick N. Deland, Company B – Medal of Honorrecipient for action during the Siege of Port Hudson, May 27, 1863
• Musician William Lord, Company C – Medal of Honor recipient for action during the Battle of Proctor’s Creek

UNION MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS

40th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry

OVERVIEW:

Organized at Lynnfield August, 1862. Moved to Washington, D. C., September 8-11. Attached 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, Military District of Washington, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to April, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to May, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Gordon’s Division, South End of Folly Island, S. C., 10th Army Corps, Dept. of the South, to January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Gordon’s Division, Folly Island, S. C., Northern District, 10th Army Corps, Dept. South, January, 1864. 1st Brigade, District of Hilton Head, S. C., 10th Army Corps, to February, 1864. Light Brigade, District of Florida, Dept. of the South, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 10th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 18th Army Corps, to December, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 24th Army Corps, Dept. of Virginia, to June, 1865.

SERVICE:

Duty in the Defences of Washington, D. C., till April, 1863. Expedition to Mill’s Cross Roads after Stuart’s Cavalry December 28-29, 1862. Picket duty on the Columbia Pike February 12 to March 30, 1863, and at Vienna till April 11. Moved to Norfolk, thence to Suffolk April 15-17. Siege of Suffolk April 17-May 4. Siege of Suffolk raised May 4. Moved to West Point May 5, thence to Yorktown May 31. Raid to Jamestown Island June 10-13. Dix’s Peninsula Campaign June 24-July 7. Expedition from White House to Bottom’s Bridge July 1-7. Baltimore Cross Roads July 2. Moved to Washington, D. C., July 10-11. March in pursuit of Lee, to Berlin, Md., July 13-22. Moved to Alexandria August 6, thence sailed to Folly Island, S. C., August 7-13. Siege operations on Folly and Morris Islands against Forts Wagner and Gregg, and against Fort Sumpter and Charleston, August 15-November 13. Expedition to Seabrook Island November 13-15. Duty at Folly Island till January 16, 1864. Moved to Hilton Head, S. C., January 16. Expedition to Jacksonville, Fla., February 4-7, and to Lake City, Fla., February 7-22. Ten Mile Run near Camp Finnegan February 8. Barber’s Place February 10. Lake City February 11. Gainesville February 14 (Cos. “C,” “G,” “H”). Battle of Olustee February 20. McGirt’s Creek March 1. Cedar Creek March 1. Duty at Jacksonville till April 22. Moved to Gloucester Point April 22-28. Expedition to West Point April 30-May 5. Butler’s operations on south side of James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 5-28. Swift Creek or Arrowfield Church May 9-10. Operations against Fort Darling May 12-16. Battle of Drewry’s Bluff May 14-16. On Bermuda Hundred Front May 17-28. Moved to White House, thence to Cold Harbor May 28-June 1. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 15-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Hares Hill June 24 and 28. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (Reserve). In trenches before Petersburg till August 27. Moved to Bermuda Front August 27, thence to Bermuda Landing August 28, and provost duty there till September 29. On the Bermuda Front till October 24. Moved to Chaffin’s Farm on north side of the James, and duty there till March, 1865. Expedition to Fredericksburg March 5-8, and up the Potomac River to the Yecomico, and to Kinsel’s Landing March 11-13, thence to White House March 13-18. March to Signal Hill before Richmond March 24-26. Occupation of Richmond April 3. Moved to Manchester April 25 and provost duty there till June 16. Mustered out June 16, and discharged at Reedville, Mass., June 30, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 67 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 125 Enlisted men by disease. Total 197.