Bullet Struck Shirt Worn by Michigan Artilleryman. This hand sewn, medium weight, coarse wool pullover shirt has the classic... (Total: 3 Items)

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Bullet Struck Shirt Worn by Michigan Artilleryman. This hand sewn, medium weight, coarse wool pullover shirt has the classic look of the Civil War garment seen in countless soldier images, with a low turnover collar and three-button fly front. There is a large breast pocket closed with a single button and cuffs which also close with a single button (one missing). All buttons are made of bone. Inside the shirt opening is a small white linen label inked with "M Barnea/ 3 Story." In the back, right side of the shirt is a hole near which appears to be some dark staining. The shirt is accompanied by an old handwritten note on the back of a business trade card that states "Blouse lining/Showing where ball entered/when wounded at Chickasaw/Bayou rear of Vicksburg/Miss/M. Barnea." The card shows signs of having been pinned to this shirt at one time. Pvt. Monroe Barnea enlisted in December, 1861 in Battery G, 1st Michigan Light Artillery. With the shirt are his standard G.A.R. medal and a souvenir program from a 1912 encampment in South Bend, Indiana. In the early days of the Vicksburg campaign Barnea was struck in the side by a minie ball while serving his piece at Chickasaw Bayou, Miss., December 27, 1862. He underwent a long recovery and did not rejoin his unit until April, 1864, mustering out with the battery in January, 1865. While soldiers treasured possessions that had been "touched by fire"," few bullet-struck articles of clothing are in existence today. This is a significant rarity with a great history.