Colonel Gilman Marston’s Epaulets & More – 2nd New Hampshire Infantry. This grouping of material was in a private New Hampshire collection until just recently. It contains a good number of items covering the career of Gilman Marston, the soldier and politician. How long it resided in this last collection is not known for certain, but records received from the National Archives date back to 1987, so certainly new material to the market. The grouping consists of: Epaulets in tin for Marston’s dress uniform when commanding the 2nd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. Made of a nice, rich quality of bullion & gilt brass, with high relief silver bullion eagles and regimental insignia with gilt “2” at the center. Surprisingly, the buttons have the “A” for artillery officers. How or why is unknown, but not the first time I have seen mismatched buttons on these epaulets. The underside used both vibrant red velvet and moroccan leather. Comes with the attachments for adding to the uniform. Japanning on the tin is worn, and the catch is missing to lock down the lid. Excellent condition. Small utility traveling trunk made of wood, and covered with tarred canvas. Russet hinge piece may be an old replacement or original, and the handle on top is original. An “M” is painted the right side of trunk.  Closing straps are broken away, but original buckles are in the trunk. Good amount of wear to edge, but holding together and makes for nice display.   18 x 13 x11. Good- Very good. Wartime cabinet sized albumen bust photo of Marston as brigadier general. Two sets of hand made notations on the reverse, “Gen’ Marston”, “Gilman Marston (NH) Established Prison Pen at Point Lookout, MD.” 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Very good condition.  The frame has blue velvet covering to front, which has turned to a purplish-blue color; worn. Support stand is missing. Autographed letter from A.D.F. Young, who at the time was Sickles Division Ordnance officer. Dated Headquarters Sickles’ Division, Camp near Falmouth, Va. Dec. 10th (8 PM) 1862.  Addressed to Col. Marston concerning sending “Extra Sprngfield R. Muskets and Equipments to me at this Head Quarters….” After the engagement at 2nd Bull Run, the 2nd NH has lost over 120 men, this at the end of August, 1862. Needing muskets for incoming replacements, this order was issued knowing the 2nd had many muskets in stores. The order was issued in the field, and required “Immediate” attentions, as noted on the address cover.  Harrison De F. Young was from the 2nd NH, and detailed at his time as Div. Ordnance officer.  He himself had been wounded at the 2nd Bull Run on August 29, 1862.  He was a captain at the time of this order.  He mustered out in June of 1864. New Hampshires Soldier’s Ticket for the Election of March 14, 1865, for the the First Congressional District – For Representative in Congress GILMAN MARSTON.  Blank on back and ready to be filled in by soldier. 3 x 3 1/2 inches. Excellent. Ward 2 Union Republican Ticket, naming Frederick Smyth for Governor of NH, and Gilman Marston, Representative to Congress,  Both were elected in 1865. 5 x 7 inches. Excellent. Civil War era photogravure of Marston in civilian clothing in mount. Overall size is 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches approximately. Fine. 1875 dated check  on the Union Five Cents Saving Bank, Exeter, NH, made out to Marston (signed), and signed by Marston, and endorsed on the reverse.  3 signatures in one. Center tear coming from pulling away from desk spike holder for papers. some light soiling. Very good. Ribbon, “GENERAL GILMAN MARSTON COMMAND  NO. 64  / PORTSMOUTH.” Celluloid pin bar with crossed US flags. 6 inches high. Receipt tab from John E. Pitzer Temperance House, Gettysburg, Pa. 2 1/8 x 3 inches. Pitzer was a well known battlefield guide, and proprietor of an Inn. Marston must have visited the Battlefield sometime in the 1890s.  Pitzer was a sergeant in Co. C. `65th PVI from Oct. 1862 to July, 1863.  Chip out of the lower left corner. Very good. Photogravure of Gilman Marston in civilian clothes and identified as “Brigadier General, U.S.A.”  6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches.  Excellent. Card for funeral services of General Gilman Marston at First Congregational Church, Exeter, Monday July 7th, 1890.  5 1/2 x 9 inches.  Fine. Copies of service record from National Archives, with original request form from last collector. Muster rolls and letters from generals and surgeons attesting to his wounding by gun shot in Sept of 1861, etc. Gilman Marston (1811 – 1890) Born in Orford, NH, died at Exeter, NH. Graduate of Dartmouth, College in 1837, and from Harvard in 1840. He served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives 1845 – 1849, delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1850. in the U.S. Congress from 1859 -1863, and again in 1865 – 1867.  He was a seated member of congress when the Civil War broke out, and he was commissioned as the colonel of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry, mustered June 4, 1861.   His arm was shattered by a musket ball in the battle of First Bull Run, and refused amputation of his arm. He had sufficiently recovered to return to the regiment for the Battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Richmond, Malvern Hill, and Fredericksburg. When military operations were suspended the winter of 1862-63, Marston returned to Congress for a brief time. In April of 1863 he was appointed a Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers. During the Battle of Gettysburg, where more than 60 % of the 2nd NH Infantry were killed, wounded or missing, Marston took the remainder of the 2nd NH, along with the 12th NH, and was ordered to establish a prison camp at Point Lookout, Maryland.  In 1864, with these and additional troops (New Yorkers from the 18th Corps) helped assault Drury’s Bluff, Va. where in half an hour lost 500 men. The surviving troops  were committed to the Siege of Petersburg, Va.  General Marston became ill and left the army, recovered and returned to Congress, having been elected in March 1865. He resigned his commission after the fall of Richmond. He practiced law in Exeter, NH after the war, and was offered the appointment as first Governor of Idaho Territory by President Grant, but declined. He filled a short vacancy in the U.S. Senate in March of 1889, but otherwise remained in Exeter practicing law until his death.”  Much more history available on the internet. (info courtesy of NH Div. of Historical Resources). A fine historical group.