Sold for $4,500
.31 caliber. 4" octagonal barrel. SN: 242823 (mfg. ca.1863). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, varnished one-piece walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with six-chambered smooth round cylinder, hammer nose notch rear sight and brass post front sight. One-line barrel address reads ADDRSS SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA with the lower left of the frame showing the usual two-line COLT'S/PATENT marking. Left rear of triggerguard web marked 31 CAL. Cylinder with Stagecoach Hold Up scene, COLT'S PATENT marking and the serial number. Matching serial numbers throughout, including the wedge and the grip. Backstrap engraved in a single line: Capt. John S.H. Doty Co E 104th Ill.
John S.H. Doty was a 23-year old carpenter from Ottawa County, IL when he joined the 104th Illinois Infantry on August 27, 1862 and was mustered in as the captain of company E. The 104th Illinois was initially assigned to the 39th Brigade of the 12th Division of the Army of the Ohio and was sent to Kentucky and then Tennessee. The entire regiment was captured in Hartsville, TN on December 7, 1862, paroled and sent to Camp Douglas in Chicago to await their official exchange. In the spring of 1863 after their exchange, they returned to Tennessee where they participated in the Tullahoma Campaign, and then moved south to Georgia where they fought at Chickamauga. After the retreat from Chickamauga they were at the Siege of Chattanooga and the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.
In May of 1864 the regiment participated in the opening moves of what would be the Atlanta Campaign. During the next few months the regiment would fight at Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas, Altoona, Pickett's Mill, Kennesaw Mountain, and Peachtree Creek before finally investing Atlanta and then taking part in Sherman's March to the Sea. It was at Peachtree Creek on July 20, 1864 that Doty was mortally wounded, being shot five times. His last words are recorded as being: "Take care of those Rebels first and see to me afterwards. Tell my father that I die for the flag. Good bye boys."
The revolver is accompanied by a large binder of research on Doty, including copies of letters, period accounts of his service, service records, etc.
Very good. Bore partly bright with strong rifling and scattered oxidation. Metal with minute traces of blue remaining in protected areas, otherwise lightly cleaned with a medium pewter patina. Frame with some traces of case coloring in protected areas. Markings remain clear and crisp throughout, with much of the cylinder scene present. Brass with traces of silver. Mechanically functional action. Grip fine with much of the varnish and some light wear, showing some minor handling marks and minor dings.