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RIFLE STYLE PARADE TORCH, AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE, circa 1860-1880's |
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| Dimensions (inches): |
65" long x 7" tall x 4.5" deep x 5" |
| Description: |
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In and around the Civil War, as well as in its wake, political rallies and parades were often torch-lit, held after the sun had sunk below the horizon and the workday ended. In 1860, many of the marchers were members of the militia unit style social clubs, extremely popular at the time, the members of which often went on to populate volunteer regiments when war commenced. Sometimes whole chapters mustered in as a single company.
This type of parade, torch, in the form of a percussion rifle, was carried from roughly 1860 - 1880’s. The design was just as fitting pre-war, for groups such as the Wide-Awakes (Lincoln's pseudo-military style campaign organization, half-a-million strong by Nov. of 1860), as it was for former soldiers post-war. Veterans marched in their own .groups, such as the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), as well as in fraternal and political clubs. Their massive numbers would reflect the bulk of active voters for decades to come. This is the best example of a rifle style parade torch that I have ever seen for sale, absolutely ideal for display with the campaign flags and banners they illuminated in parades, especially in support of Lincoln, Grant, and any other presidential hopefuls that spent time as Union Army Generals, such as McClellan, Hayes, Garfield, Hancock, and Benjamin Harrison.
Made of carved and turned wood, cast iron, sheet iron, and tin, the torch itself with a cotton wick. |
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| Primary Color: |
brown |
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| Earliest Date: |
1860 |
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| Latest Date: |
1888 |
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| For Sale Status: |
Available |
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| Price |
$8,500 |
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| E-mail: |
info@jeffbridgman.com |
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