GETTYSBURG COMMEMORATIVE PRESENTATION CANE WITH
ENGRAVED PLAQUE DETAILING GIFT BETWEEN TWO CIVIL WAR
VETERANS: This unique handmade cane was made
and presented by one Civil War veteran to another Civil
War veteran and this one of a kind gift is documented on
the engraved plaque mounted on the cane. The
inscription on the plaque reads:
On Gettysberg Bloody Field, 40 yrs
after the Battle
Battle Fought July 1st
2nd & 3d, 1863. Union Loss 23000
Confederate Loss 38000. Cane made
and presented by
J. M. Fortney to D. M. Delp
A check of the National Park
Service Civil War Soldiers Listings show a Pvt. John M.
Fortney who served in Company G, 12th West
Virginia Infantry Regiment and a Pvt. David M. Delp who
served in Company A, 1st Regiment of the
Pennsylvania Provisional Cavalry which apparently later
became the 20th Regiment of the Pennsylvania
Cavalry. I haven’t researched the histories of these
men in detail, and will leave what could be an
interesting research project for the new owner to
pursue. The information on the engraved plaque
indicates that the cane was made and presented in 1903,
quite probably at one of the reunions held at Gettysburg
on the 40th anniversary of the battle.
The cane measures 33 ¼” in overall
length. The tapered body of the cane is fashioned from
oak and is square in the cross section, 1” square at the
top and tapering down to ½” square at the bottom. The
top of the cane features an offset carved area
surmounted by a copper knob 1½” in diameter that is
decorated with a pleasant floral pattern. The hand
engraved plaque is made of aluminum, considered at the
time to be a semi-precious metal, and is attached to the
cane with six small screws. There is a ½” hole drilled
through the cane that would have held a dowel that
passed behind the plaque and would extend on each side
of the cane from which a small U.S. Flag would be
suspended on one side and a small Confederate Flag on
the other – a feature common to these canes
commemorating the Civil War and carried by the veterans
at reunions. The tip of the cane is protected by a
metal ferrule that appears to be made of nickel plated
brass. The cane is definitely hand fashioned, showing
tool marks at the points of carving and shaping. The
cane is in very good condition, showing some use as one
would expect. The hand knob has a shallow dent in the
top flat and there is an age crack in the wood on the
side opposite the plaque, but it is stable and does not
affect the integrity of the strength of the cane. The
wood still retains the majority of its original varnish
finish.
This is a very nice Civil War
Veteran item, with value added historic association to
the Battle of Gettysburg and more importantly a timeless
tribute to the friendship between two identified Civil
War Veterans. Such Civil War Veteran items with
all the “bells and whistles” are scarce indeed.
SOLD
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