Maine Memory Network

This cavalry revolver belonged to Lt. Ephram H. Taylor of the 1st Maine Cavalry in the Civil War. Taylor, of Lisbon Falls, fought near the Rappahannock River, and was killed near Middleburg, Virginia, in 1863.

This sword belonged to John Marshall Brown of Portland. He may have used it during the Civil War.

Brown graduated from Bowdoin College in 1860. He studied law, but was commissioned as First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 20th Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, in 1862 before he was admitted to the bar.

In June 1863, Brown was named Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers with the First Brigade, 11th Corps.

He returned to Portland and became a prominent businessman and civic leader.

This sword belonged to William Albert Turner.

This sword belonged to Granville F. Sparrow, (1837-1907) of Portland, Maine and was used by him in the Civil War.

This sword belonged to Captain James Alden, USN of Portland. The fish skin on the handle is decorative and also might aid in ensuring a secure grip.

Lt. Ephraim H. Taylor of the 1st Maine Cavalry to the Civil War used this cavalry sword and scabbard.

Taylor, of Lisbon Falls, fought near the Rappahannock River, and was killed near Middlebury, Virginia, in 1863.

The top sword's blade is inscribed Howard Russell Hickok, U.S. Army, Springfield, Mass., and etched in filgree floral pattern. Calvary or Staff and Field Officer's sword ca. 1860.

The middle sword's blade etched with "U.S., US. Amory, Springfield, Mass." It is believed to be an 1860 infantry sword.

The bottom sword etched "Kenzie W. Walker", floral filigree, and "The Warnock Co., New York, N.Y." Calvary or Staff and Field Officer's sword ca. 1840-60.

In the fall of 1861, Captain Black Hawk Putnam of Houlton raised and commanded Company E of the 1st Maine Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was mustered into service on October 31, 1861. He was wounded at the Battle of Middletown, Virginia.

Putnam was a farmer and merchant in Houlton.

This saber bayonet, looking more like a short sword, added considerable weight to a Civil War soldier's rifle.

In the fall of 1861, Captain Black Hawk Putnam raised and commanded Company E of the First Maine Cavalry Regiment. He was wounded at the Battle of Middletown, Virginia.

This saber was introduced to the light cavalry during the Civil War. Light cavalry troops were mostly engaged in scouting, raiding, and skirmishing.

This saber belonged to Colonel Josiah Merrow, (1794-1888) of Bowdoinham.

This saber was made by the Ames Manufacturing Company. Markings on the blade are "US/DR/1863 Ames Mfg Co/Chicopee/Mass."

This dagger was made in the Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, by an unknown Maine man. The handle is too small for this dagger to be used as a weapon.

Hollis True, who was mustered into U.S. service as a member of Company D of the 17th Regiment Infantry, Maine Volunteers, in Portland, on August 18, 1862, owned this bullet case with a "PMB" brass monogram on front. It held 12 bullets.

True, of Pownal, was single and 23 years old when he enlisted.

True maintained a diary of his time during the Civil War, and recounts fighting at Chancellorsville during May 1863 and in the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign. On June 16, 1864, not far from Petersburg, Corporal True was hit by a minie ball that broke his thigh.

After some time in a field hospital, True arrived in a Washington hospital on June 28, where he stayed recovering at least through September 27, 1864.

The 17th Regiment was mustered out of U.S. service near Washington, D. C., on June 4, 1865. Hollis True died in Cumberland on December 23, 1910, at the age of 71 years, six months and 23 days.

This small case contained the percussion caps Capt. Lawrence needed to fire his musket. The caps looked like tiny top hats and were filled with fulminate of mercury which, when struck by the hammer, would spark and set fire to the powder into the musket barrel. The case was likely carried by Capt. Lawrence when he was killed in battle.

This saber is etched with floral and military designs. Markings include "Derr A Andlaw" engraved on the edge of the sword.