"Old Baldy"

Born in Cadiz, Spain, but raised in Philadelphia, Major General George Gordon Meade commanded the Union Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Gettysburg, 1-3 July 1863.  Other artifacts related to General Meade of exhibit at The Civil War Library and Museum, 1805 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA, include: the frock coat Meade wore at the Battle of Gettysburg; a presentation sword made by Bailey & Co. given to Meade by the officers of the Pennsylvania Reserves; his sash, sword belt, and Major General's epaulets; his distinctive slouch hat and kepi; the Army of the Potomac headquarters flag he adopted in March, 1864; and other personal objects.
 
 
 
 
 

"Hope" Saddle
Upon Which Major General John Fulton Reynolds
Was Riding When Killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, 1 July 1863

The highest ranking officer killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, Reynolds had turned down command of the Army of the Potomac just days before his death. In addition to the rare "Hope" saddle, Reynolds' sash, sword belt, and the remnants of the his First Army Corps headquarters flag were presented in 1940 by members of the Reynolds family to The Civil War Library and Museum, 1805 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA.
 
 
 

Field Glasses and Case
Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant

The Civil War Library and Museum, has an entire room dedicated to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant.  Among the artifacts displayed are: a frock coat made by John Wanamaker in 1886; the gold pen used by President Lincoln to sign Grant's commission as Lieutenant General; a collection of shoulder straps, including the Major General's strap cut from the uniform Grant wore at the siege of Vicksburg; the original surrender document for Fort Donelson; a cased presentation sword given to Grant for the Vicksburg victory; and a rare death mask of the General.
 
 
 

Steel Engraving
President Abraham Lincoln

The Civil War Library and Museum, has more space dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln than any other subject.  In addition to an extensive Lincoln library, artifacts which are exhibited related to the sixteenth President include a lock of Lincoln's hair; unique fine art and sculpture; a fragment of the flag Lincoln raised at Independence Hall on 22 February 1861, and an original "wanted" poster for the Lincoln assassination conspirators.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Captain Francis Adams Donaldson
118th Pennsylvania Infantry

The Civil War Library and Museum, contains more than 13,000 volumes; 5,000 photographs; and 200 linear feet of manuscript material.  A fine example of the institution's archival collections are the papers of Francis Adams Donaldson, of the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry.  Published by Stackpole Books as "Inside the Army of the Potomac: The Civil War Letters of Captain Francis Adams Donaldson", in 1998, Edwin C. Bearss, Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service said of the collection, "The Donaldson Civil War correspondence is arguably the most interesting and perceptive that it has been my fortune to read in more that forty years."
 
 
 

Miniature Anchor and Ship's Chronometer

The Civil War Library and Museum, contains an extensive collection of artifacts, books, manuscripts and photographs related to naval service during the Civil War.  The American Civil War saw the introduction of "ironclad" warships, which immediately made the world's navies obsolete.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Prison Life
Shackles, Prison Keys, Hardtack, and Carved Stone Book

The Civil War Library and Museum, contains an impressive collection of artifacts, books, manuscripts, photographs, and fine art related to Civil War prisons.  The iron key, shown here, was used at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, and the stone book was carved by a Union prisoner-of-war.  Many prisoners died, both in the north and south, because of the harsh environment in which the men were forced to live.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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