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Great Gold Headed Cane Presented to Civil War General Benjamin Franklin Fisher,...
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Sold on Dec 7, 2013 for:
$1,150.00
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Description
Great Gold Headed Cane Presented to Civil War General Benjamin Franklin Fisher, 35" overall with ebony shaft, steel tip and heavily chaised and engraved gold head. Inscribed on the top of the gold head, "Presented to/Benj. F. Fisher/Belmont Lodge No. 19 K of B/Philadelphia April 25th/1885". Cane shows some honest wear and use retaining most of the original black finish on the shaft. Gold head slightly bent at the base else perfect showing some honest wear with the inscription still crisp.Fisher was born in 1834 in Spring Mills, Centre County Penna. and enlisted as a 1st Lieut. in the 3rd Penna. Reserve Inf. on 6/18/61. He was promoted to Captain 07/08/62, Major in the Signal Corps 03/03/63, Colonel 12/03/64 and brevet Brigadier General 3/13/65. On the night of June 16, 1863, Fisher and a number of other men in his party were captured b y a 90 man contingent of John Singleton Mosby's Cavalry. Fisher was subsequently taken to Libby prison in Richmond. After his arrival at Libby Fisher was made aware of an ongoing plot among a number of Union officers to tunnel out of the prison. The plot was originally under the command of Colonel Thomas E. Rose, and involved only a small group of officers sworn to secrecy, most of whom had been captured at Chickamauga. The conspirators began their project by removing bricks from the back of the fireplace in what was called the kitchen and dug their way into the cellar. The details of the plot as it unfolded represent a remarkable story, and are contained in an article in the Philadelphia Public Ledger dated November 22, 1864, which accompanies the cane. Fisher, along with Colonel Rose led the escape on the night of february 9, 1864. Of the 109 men who escaped through the tunnel, 48 were recaptured, 2 drowned, and 59 including Fisher, reached Union lines. Subsequent to his repatriation Fisher was appointed Colonel and Chief Signal Officer of the Army. Fisher's remarkable story is recounted in detail in the accompanying newspaper article which is headed, "Sole Survivor Of The Libby Prison Tunnel Diggers/General B. F. Fisher of Valley Forge, Celebrates His 80th Anniversary by Narrating the Thrilling Experiences Which Befell him and his 108 Associates in Escaping From the Confederate Jail". A great artifact, presented to the leader of one of the most remarkable adventures of the Civil War.
Auction Info
2013 December 7 Civil War & Militaria Signature Auction - Dallas #6107 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2013
7th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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