Civil War Federal Issue Regulation Copper Single-Twist Bugle with Original Infantry Blue Cord from the Gen. Charles Garrison Harker GAR Post No. 6

SOLD

Civil War Federal Issue Regulation Copper Single-Twist Bugle with Original Infantry Blue Cord from the Gen. Charles Garrison Harker GAR Post No. 6  – This superb example of a Federal Issue, regulation bugle is principally constructed of copper, with the typical period, brass floating garland surrounding the bell; the original mouthpiece appears to be a tarnished silver; there are two silver connecting tubes or pipes that are integral to the copper tubing of the bugle. During the Civil War, musical instruments constructed of metals, could not be extruded as a tube or “pipe”, rather they had to be hammered into the shape of each respective instrument, over a form, then dovetailed and joined via solder at the dovetailed seam; therefore, brass instruments of the period exhibit an obvious, saw tooth-like dovetail seam that begins at the bell and extends throughout the entire body or tubing of the instrument, as evident in this bugle. There are no maker’s marks on the bugle, although it is, in all likelihood, a product of Klemm & Bro. of Philadelphia, a prominent, Civil War, military, musical instrument contractor. The bugle and cording both remain in superb condition. Affixed to the top of the horn, near the bell, is a silver shield that is engraved as follows:

“GEN. HARKER

Post No. 6

G A R”

That post is listed in the compendium of U.S. GAR posts:

The Gen. Harker GAR Post No. 6, in Glassboro, New Jersey, was formed in 1878 and its charter surrendered, in 1885. The Post was named after Gen. Charles Garrison Harker who, after initially serving in the U.S. Army’s 15^th Infantry, at the onset of the Civil War, was commissioned into the Field and Staff of the 65^th Ohio Infantry, in November, 1861. In September of 1863, Harker was commissioned in the U.S. Volunteers General Staff. Gen. Harker was killed in action, at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, on June 27, 1864. As a native of the State of New Jersey, the GAR Post No. 6 was chartered in his name. According to the collector from whom we obtained the bugle, he got the bugle from an elderly, New Jersey resident who obtained it from the items that had once been in the GAR Post No. 6; this individual maintained that the bugle had been part of the post’s collection, and that it had been picked up on the battlefield of Kennesaw Mountain. We certainly cannot corroborate this claim, yet the bugle is a superior example, with a most interesting additional ID.

Measurements: Overall Length – 16.75”

Charles Garrison Harker – Graduate USMA 07/01/1858.  GAR Post #51, Wilber,   named in honor of this soldier

Charles Garrison Harker

NOTES:

Charles Garrison Harker

Charles Garrison Harker (December 2, 1837 – June 27, 1864) was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in action at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in northern Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign. Fort Harker in Kansas, an active garrison of the United States Army from 1866 to 1872, was named in his honor. The Charles G. Harker School in the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District, New Jersey, is named in his honor.^[1]

Early life and career

Harker was born on December 2, 1837, in Swedesboro, New Jersey. As a youth, he worked as a clerk in a retail store owned by U.S. Congressman Nathan T. Stratton. Through the influences of Stratton, Harker received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Harker graduated in 1858 with the brevet rank of second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Infantry and was assigned to garrison duty at the United States Army post on Governor’s Island in New York Harbor. Subsequently, Harker served at outposts in the Oregon and Washington territories.

Civil War service

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Harker was assigned to duty in Ohio to help train newly recruited volunteer soldiers. He was promoted to first lieutenant of the 15th U.S. Infantry on May 14, 1861, and then to captain on October 24, 1861. He was subsequently appointed as colonel of the 65th Ohio Infantry, a regiment in the forces of Brig. Gen. Don Carlos Buell. He became the regiment’s colonel on November 11, 1861.^[2]

Harker and the 65th OVI participated in the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh, as well as the subsequent Siege of Corinth, Mississippi. In late June, he took over command of the 20th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio, replacing James A. Garfield.^[3] Later that year, he was involved in the Battle of Perryville in Kentucky. Harker received praise for his significant contributions during the Battle of Stones River at the end of the year while leading the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Left Wing of XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland.

In 1863, he was in command of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, IV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, Military Division of the Mississippi. He again drew the attention of his senior commanders with a determined stand against Confederate attackers during the Battle of Chickamauga in northern Georgia. In recognition of his performance and service, he was promoted to fill an opening as a brigadier general, dating from September 20, 1863. After participating in the fighting around Chattanooga and the assault on Missionary Ridge, he and his men helped relieve Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside during the Siege of Knoxville.

In mid-1864, as the Atlanta Campaign began, Harker commanded a brigade under Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard. On May 7, he successfully held the peak of Rocky Face Ridge despite determined Confederate efforts to dislodge his men. In June William T. Sherman‘s Union army attempted to displace Confederate troops from their fortifications on Kennesaw Mountain. Harker was shot from his horse and mortally wounded during a failed attack on June 27, 1864. His body was shipped back to his native Swedesboro, New Jersey, where it was buried in Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery.^[4]

In popular culture

Harker is portrayed by Bob Gunton in the 1989 Civil War film, Glory. Unlike the real Harker, who died at 26, for dramatic purposes the film portrays him as an older general who authorizes plunder and corruption among his subordinates. He was also never promoted to Major General, and never served around Charleston.

Charles Garrison Harker 

BIRTH

2 Dec 1835

Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey, USA

DEATH

27 Jun 1864 (aged 28)

Kennesaw, Cobb County, Georgia, USA

BURIAL

Trinity Episcopal Church New Cemetery

Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Civil War Union Brigadier General. Born is Swedesboro, New Jersey, he was appointed to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York by New Jersey Congressman Nathan T. Stratton, whom he was working for as a clerk in the Congressman’s business. He graduated in 1858, placing sixteenth in a class of twenty-seven, eleven of which would fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War, including Confederate General Bryan M. Thomas. Posted as a 2nd Lieutenant first with the 2nd United States Infantry regiment, then the 9th United States Infantry regiment, he served in garrison duty in New York City, New York, then in escort duty in the Pacific Northwest territories of Oregon and Washington. When the Civil War began he was recalled east, where he was assigned to train and drill volunteer Union troops assembling in Ohio. Promoted to Captain in the newly formed 15th United States Regular Infantry on October 24, 1861, he was commissioned as Colonel of Volunteers a month later on November 11, 1861 and placed in command of the 65th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He regiment was assigned to the 21st Brigade of the 6th Division of the Army of Ohio, which was commanded by Major General Don Carlos Buell. His brigade commander was future United States President Brigadier General James A. Garfield. At the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee, his men were part of the force that arrived the day after the battle began, and helped push the Confederates back after gains they made at the beginning of the engagement. He led his men through the April-May 1862 Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, then in June 1862 took command of his brigade when General Garfield was prostrated with illness and returned to his home to recover. He led the brigade in the October 1862 Battle of Perryville, Kentucky and, after the army he was in was re-designated as the Army of the Cumberland, the December 1862-January 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He continued in brigade commander through 1863 during operations in Tennessee under Major General William S. Rosecrans, and was praised for his unit’s performance at the September 1863 Battle of Chickamuaga. His men greatly aided Major General George Thomas’ staunch defense on Snodgrass House Hill on the second day of the battle, which saved the Union Army from disaster. Promoted to Brigadier General, US Volunteers after the engagement, his commission was dated to September 20, 1863. His men fought in the battles in and around Chattanooga, Tennessee, and were part of the relief force that helped lift the Confederate siege of Knoxville. In the Spring of 1864 his men were part of the Union operations under Major General William T. Sherman that pursued the Confederate Army of Tennessee. On May 7, 1864 his brigade worked their way up the steep cliffs of Rocky Face Ridge near Dalton, Georgia, and captured the position despite heavy Confederate fire and difficult, rocky terrain. General Harker held the heights until May 13 despite Confederate efforts to drive them off. His brigade was selected as one of the three Union assaulting forces on June 27, 1864 during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, near Marietta, Georgia. There he led his men while riding a white horse in the center attack on Confederate positions that became known as Cheatham Hill. The assault faltered due to very rough, mountainous terrain, and because of well-positioned Confederates who were behind strong fortifications. While rallying his men he was shot off his horse, and, after being brought behind Union lines, died later in the day. His remains were sent back to his hometown of Swedesboro, and after the war the veterans of his brigade erected a monument to him over his grave site.