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CONFEDERATE CIVIL WAR TROPHY POWDER HORN –
INSCRIBED ON BASE PLUG “TAKEN FROM SECESH” – VERY NICE
HISTORICAL PIECE BROUGHT HOME BY A UNION SOLDIER:
This small powder horn is a
special little treasure of the kind that doesn’t surface
very often these days, recently found in a very old
collection. Most certainly a personal priming horn, and
most likely made and used with a flintlock rifle or
musket well before the Civil War, the wood base of the
horn is inscribed with a simple inked hand written
notation, “TAKEN FROM SECESH”, obviously identifying the
horn as a trophy taken by a Federal soldier during the
years of the American Civil War.
The inscription is written in 19TH Century
period script, and it presents as consistent with the
age of the horn. While still very legible, it shows
some fading and wear from being handled.
“Secesh”, an archaic abbreviation of secessionist, was
in common usage during the Civil War as a term by which
Federal soldiers referred to the citizens, both civilian
and soldiers, of the Confederate States of America.
Like any other euphemism or label which one armed force
uses to identify an opposition force, the use of
“Secesh” was intended to devalue or denigrate the
Southern population. In a number of historical
accounts, “Secesh” was applied to Confederate prisoners
of war, or the civilian population of one of the
southern states which had fallen under the control of
federal forces, and were therefore subject to searches
and confiscation of property.
As the federal forces occupied the southern states, any
arms, accoutrements, or quantities of gun powder held by
the local militia or civilian population which could
conceivably be used to resist the occupation were
seized. While the primary arms of both armies had
advanced well beyond the flintlock ignition system, many
of those early flintlock rifles and muskets were still
in the hands of private citizens, and were still fully
functional, therefore those arms and the powder horns to
support them would have been subject to seizure. Given
the size of this horn, I think it most likely that it
was a privately owned priming horn intended to be used
with one of the flintlock rifles, muskets or pistols,
and that it was carried in the shooter’s pocket or pouch
as there is no provision for a shoulder strap.
The horn measures 4 ˝“ long along the outside of the
curve (not including the plugs), and the base plug
measures 1 ˝” by 1”. The horn shows hand scraping marks
where the thickness of the horn was relieved to reduce
the weight. The surface of the horn is naturally
polished from being handled and carried for many years,
and it has a nicely aged patina, definitely having the
feel of an old horn. The base plug is hand fitted,
showing wear and having a feel commensurate with the
wear on the horn. The plug at the spout end is hand
carved and from all appearances, is original to the
horn. Overall, the horn is very solid and has a
wonderful appearance.
Collectors tend to focus on the uniforms, arms and
equipment of the opposing forces of any conflict because
they are the most readily available and recognizable
artifact categories. Seldom does a piece surface which
is immediately identifiable with the conflict, but
reflects the enormous impact on the civilian
population. This small priming horn with its evocative
inscription is just such an artifact and one which
documents just how intrusive war, in particular a civil
war, can be. (0127) $675
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