Description:
Jefferson Davis' Revolver with Civil War Diary of Davis' Capture
This is the original Kerr Patent revolver owned by Jefferson Davis and given to Captain Given Campbell on May 4, 1865 when Campbell took service as Davis' personal escort. This comes with Given Campbell's hand written diary detailing events from March 1, 1865 to May 10, 1865 when Davis and Campbell was captured by Union forces. Also included is a letter from Given Campbell, Jr detailing the history of the revolver as learned from his father.
More photos and details upon request.
The Revolver
KERR PATENT REVOLVER LONDON ARMS COMPANY .44 CALIBER PERCUSSION
also known as .54 bore
5.5" barrel
5 shot, Side Hammer
Manufactured 1859 to 1866
(Antique, No Firearms License Needed)
Serial # 1041
This is a very early (SN 1041) Kerr Patent revolver made by the London Armoury Company for the CSA. Those Kerr Patent revolvers with Confederate association, as this one, are struck with the 'JS'/anchor mark, the same as those that appear on the longarms. This mark on the pistol is on the underside of the checkered grips below the trigger guard plate. The lockplate of this revolver is engraved 'London Armory' and the frame is marked with the serial number 'Kerr's Patent 1041'. This is a particularly fine specimen with considerable amounts remaining of the original blue finish.
The early engraving on the revolver reads "Present to Given Campbell by Pres. Davis CSA on May 4, 1865". This is the date that Davis asked Given Campbell to lead his escort.
The Kerr's Patent revolver was considered one of the finest made and finished revolvers in the world and was better than Colt in terms of quality. It's back action lock was used so that almost any gunsmith could work on it.
Orders of the Kerr Patent revolver shipped over to CSA started at around the 1000 mark in production. Some books incorrectly state numbers 3000 to 10000 w CSA orders but collectors have many early ones numbered around 1000 with confederate marks. This revolver is one of the earliest SCA revolvers with a serial number of 1041.
Condition: Barrel and cylinder retain 60 to 80% original bright blue finish with areas of scattered staining. Face of cylinder has several cuts and dings. Frame and lock retain traces of original finish. Stocks show little wear, retaining original varnish. "JS" and anchor markings are crisp, though partially obscured by checkering.
The Civil War Diary
This authentic Civil War diary written by Given Campbell covers the dates of March 1, 1865 to May 10, 1865. On May 10th, Given Campbell was captured by Union forces. Notable events include:
March 28, 1865: Met up with Joseph E. Johnston in N.C. before Johnston's surrendered on April 26, 1865.
April 14: First heard of Lee's Surrender.
April 15: Learned his division was to protect President Davis & cabinet.
April 17: President Davis eyes Given Campbell closely.
April 28: Gos to Yorkville, S.C.
May 4: Given guns and horses by Jefferson Davis.
May 10: Captured.
A copy of this diary is at the Library of Congress:
http://lccn.loc.gov/mm79000412
Given Campbell Biography
Captain Given Campbell (Dec. 1, 1835 -- Nov. 20, 1906), son of James Campbell and Mary Given, received his college education at Center College, Danville, Kentucky and went to the University of Virginia Law School. Prior to the war, Given moved to St. Louis, Missouri w he continued his law studies under Charles Drake in order to be admitted to the Missouri Bar Association. When Federal action threatened the State, Campbell enlisted in the 2nd Regiment Missouri Volunteer Militia under Col. John S. Bowen. He then was elected Captain by the 53 member Company "G". On May 10, 1861 when the Missouri Volunteer Militia was gat d for their yearly drill and muster at Camp Jackson which at the time was just outside of city limits of St. Louis, Missouri. the entire camp of approximately 700 militia men were captured and taken prisoner by the fanatic, Captain Nathaniel Lyon and his 10,000 man combined U.S. Army and German "home-guard".
After receiving his parole, Campbell returned to Kentucky w he enlisted as a private in Company "B", 15th Kentucky Cavalry. Soon he was promoted to Captain the company. Later Campbell would serve in Basil Duke's command in the Virginia theater of the later days of the war. Following Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Campbell was selected to command President Jefferson Davis' escort composed of members of Duke's Cavalry brigade. Captain Campbell along with the rest of the escort and President Davis were captured at Irwinsville, Georgia on May 10th 1865. This was exactly four years to the day, after Campbell's capture at Camp Jackson (10 May 1861).
Following the war, Campbell came back to St. Louis, and in 1865 married Miss Susan Woods. Due to extreme anti-Confederate sentiments in the city, the Campbells left for New Orleans. After 1873, when the radical Republicans back in Missouri were voted out of office, the Campbells returned to St. Louis w Given returned to his law practice. After raising a family with three children, Given Campbell died in 1906, and is buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri in Plot Block 112, Lot 56
Provenance
Purchased from Given Campbell, Jr in 1940 by Arthur Ziern. The revolver and diary comes with correspondence, dated 1940, from Given Campbell, Jr. to Arthur Ziern describing the gun and his father's receipt of the gun from Jefferson Davis. Current owner: Ziern-Hanon Galleries.
The letter from Given Campbell, Jr. reads:
St. Louis, Missouri Apr. 8, '40.
My dear Mr. Ziern,
In looking over old records concerning the Civil War pistol of which we were talking last week I find the following.... May I funish up the story with what my father Capt. Given Campbell told me personally of the last day [of Davis' capture]? The day preceding the Capture Mr Davis told my father that t was a body of yankee cavalry reported to be at a nearby place he mentioned and asked him to take the escort and scout t and come back and report to him. My father said he thought this not best. Mr. Davis said well you and the escort go any how. Capt Campbell said he would not go. Then the President drew himself up straight and saluted and said, "As your superior officer I command you to go." T was nothing else to do. But before leaving the President he was handed the revolver as a present and while away with the escort the capture was made.
As you readily see the revolver in a way furnishes the concrete and final proof of the above bit of history and furnishes the reason why I would like to talk to the purchaser before parting with the fire arm.
Sincerely,
Given Campbell, Jr.
References
Campbell, Given. Memorandum of a Journal of Given Campbell, 1865. Located at the Library of Congress, this important memorandum is a summary of original diary.
Crist, Lynda Lasswell, editor. The Papers of Jefferson Davis. Vol. 9. Page 574. This book specifically mentions that Jefferson Davis gave Given Campbell two Kerr's Patent revolvers.
Wolf, Wayne; Paul Feah; and Jack Simmerling. Colonel Given Campbell C.S.A.: Confederate Hero. 1995. This book reproduces Given Campbell's earlier 1860 diary, many civil war letters to his wife, and another of Given Campbell's diaries from 1866. The facsimile reproduction of the manuscripts confirm Given Campbell's authorship of the civil war diary.
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