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Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver and Campaign Trunk Belonging to Major George Washington Lafayette Fly of the 2nd Texas Infantr... (Total: 2 Items)
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Sold on Dec 1, 2007 for:
$19,120.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
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Description
Named Pistol and Campaign Trunk to a Major in "The Gonzalez Invincibles"
Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver and Campaign Trunk Belonging to Major George Washington Lafayette Fly of the 2nd Texas Infantry Regiment An outstanding Civil War group belonging to Major George Washington Lafayette Fly (1835-1905). Fly was born in Yalobusha County, Mississippi on June 2, 1835 and moved with his family to Brazoria County, Texas in 1853. There the Fly family operated a large plantation with the assistance of about 100 slaves. With the outbreak of the war, George Fly entered the Confederacy as a Captain of Company I, 2nd Texas Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, also known as "The Gonzalez Invincibles". With the 2nd Texas Fly participated in the bloody battle at Shiloh, Tennessee; the engagement at Iuka, Mississippi; the stormy conflict at Fort Pemberton; and the battle at Corinth, Tennessee where he was taken prisoner at Fort Robinat (one of two times he found himself captured). Fly was paroled in a prisoner exchange and upon his return was promoted to major and given command of the 2nd Texas Infantry Regiment and held the position of commander of the Port of Galveston. After the fall of Vicksburg and until the end of the war the 2nd Texas operated primarily along the lower Rio Grande valley and the Texas coast. After the war Fly enjoyed a career in law and as administrator of Gonzalez College.Included in the group is Major Fly's personal .31 caliber Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver, 5 shot version, 5" octagonal barrel, with floral and bird head engraving motif on the frame and barrel, serial number 142185 (grip, frame, barrel, cylinder and trigger group match) with "Address Saml Colt/ New York City" along top of barrel, walnut grips, small trigger guard, attached loading lever, silver plated brass grip straps and trigger guard, with "Maj. W. L. Fly" engraved on the back strap of the grip.
Fly's campaign trunk personalized with "Maj. Geo. W. L. Fly/ 2nd Tex. Inf. Reg't/ C.S.A." on the lid in red paint rounds out this outstanding group. The stained walnut trunk measures 18.5" x 13" x 12.25", with a slightly arched lid, constructed with dove tailed sides and square nails, missing the locking mechanism and with honest wear but an attractive piece with a wonderfully aged patina. The lot is sold with a small file of papers concerning the Fly family, including information on Major Fly's son, Frank Merriman Fly, a noted Texas judge.
Condition: The silver plating on the revolver brass is wearing thin, there's some light pitting present, and the cylinder engraving is faint, else a nice example of this Colt model.
Auction Info
2007 December Civil War Auction #674 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2007
1st
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,133
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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