A Rebel's Rifle

 

When the Civil war began, men and boys from these hills of Western Virginia, grabbed their hunting rifle and headed off to the cause.  Of course, many times they need not venture far, as the conflict may be at their doorstep.  Every time I handle an antique longrifle  I wonder who the early owners were, where it has been, and what it may have experienced.  The ole adage, "if this gun could only talk".   Well, the rifle we present today, has some provenance engraved to it, so in a sense, it can speak, sharing a little of its history, while keeping the identity of the soldier who carried it into battle a secret.  This rifle has witnessed the bloodiest day on American soil. Shortly after the rebel combatant fell or was captured, his rifle came into possession of the Gosnell's. The Gosnell's had it engraved and gifted it to their uncle, Samuel Ward, a veteran of the War of 1812.  This gift was a way for the nephews to honor their uncle’s loyalty and service to our country during America's Second War of Independence.  Samuel Ward's nephews were his sister's sons.  Samuel Ward lived in the Baltimore area.  Samuel died in 1867 at the age of 82 & was referred to as an " Old Defender" of Baltimore in the War of 1812.  The Gosnell's were also residents of Maryland. 

                                                                 Click for larger image

                                                                                      

The side plate is engraved, “A Rebels Rifle captured on the battlefield of Antietam 17 Sept. 1862.”

                                                                          

The patchbox door bears a presentation inscription, “Presented to Samuel Ward / Soldier of the War of 1812 by his nephews / L.W. Gosnell, M.T. Gosnell, / & Wm. L. Gosnell.”

                                                                                 

                                                  C. Robbins Flintlock converted to percussion

                                                                                 

W E in script 

The percussion longrifle was made by William Evick (1803-1886) of Pendleton County and signed W E in script on top of the barrel. The Evick's were prominent gunmakers in Franklin. I believe the rifle was originally percussion & used a repurposed lock, that was originally flint and converted to percussion.  The rifle is approx. 40 cal, and has a 32-inch barrel, obviously cut down from an original length of 40-44 inches.  The rear sight has been moved from its original location to the breech tang to suit the aiming practice or eyesight of some owner. For more information on EVICKS

 

                     

 

                                                  Thanks to the owner for sharing.

                                                                             FB

SAMUEL K. NELSON Pendleton County Gunsmith

 A while back, we got a call from a friend who said he was looking at two rifles and was sure they were from West Virginia. However, he had not encountered the signatures on both of them before. He said the fellow who had them would be heading our way in a few days, and we should look at them. Well, to make a long story short, we inspected the rifles and had to agree that they were made somewhere around these parts.

Click image for larger view

 Both rifles were signed "S K N" in script. We started going through the census records.  

 When we found a Samuel K Nelson listed as gunsmith in the 1860 census, we knew we had the maker of these rifles.

Samuel K. Nelson, was born in 1811, in Greenbrier County, WV. He moved to Pendleton County with his parents.  There, he was a Farmer, mill owner, and gunsmith.  Engraved on the silver inlay under the cheekpiece of one rifle is the name, Adam Keller.  Our research found that Adam Keller was born in 1818 in Pendleton County.  Adam and Samuel were married to sisters.  During the Civil War, Adam joined the Swamp Dragons, a Union Guerilla group, or militia.  Samuel was accused of helping the Confederates and making statements against the Union.  He was arrested and spent some time in a Wheeling, WV Prison.  The prison was in a hotel, called Athenaeum.  We found copies of letters from him and the Union officials relating to this matter. He finally obtained his freedom by posting bond and pledging his allegiance to the Union.

                                                             

                          SIGNED AFFIDAVIT BY SAMUEL NELSON'S ACCUSERS

              (partial excerpt)                                                          " Post Head Quarter,  Petersburg, VA  27 June 1862

     Deposition of Amos Shirk,

I Amos Shirk do solemnly swear that I heard Samuel K. Nelson say if any man reported him to the "Union Forces" and he should be ---- or have the opportunity he would kill the one who reported him and further that he would rejoice in the opportunity of shooting or stoning the Yankees and that from his whole conversation that he appears a very strong secession's  Amos Shirk.

     

Sworn before me this 27th day of June 1862  

        C.W. Sheaver Capt

          ? counseling ? Post

                      Deposition # 2

Deposition of William Shreve,

    I Wm Shreve do solemnly  swear that I was in the confederate camp, in the "Upper Tract" Pendleton Co. VA with Samuel K. Nelson, and heard him report one Adam Carr, as being a dangerous Union man and proposed to lead the rebels to the house of said Carr for the purpose of arresting him and that he expressed his regret that John Carr son of Adam Carr who had been arrested by the rebels had been released declaring that if he had been in camp sooner he would have been retained and further that the said Sam K. Nelson expressed the opinion that the "Black Flag" should be raised in Virginia and every Union man should be put to death."

                                     

        (signed)                                  William Shreve

                                                       X  his mark

Sworn before me this 27th day of June 1862

                                          C.W. Sheaver, Capt

                                            ?  Counsel? Post

                                                                   

         LETTERS FROM SAMUEL REQUESTING HIS RELEASE AND HIS DEFENSE,                                             WHILE  HE WAS IMPRISONED  IN WHEELING.

                                                                     

 Maj Gen Halleck                                                July 14, 1862

     "Dear Sir I thank your honor of communicating to me the charges against me it is the most notorious false hood that man ever was charged with    I am able to prove by my neighbors that I am falsely accused and if you will please allow me the liberty of hiring a man to go to my neighborhood I can convince you and all who may desire of my innocence   I can prove I have kept my Union neighbors hid from the secesh and knew where they were all the time and I can prove that I was not for war in no respect and that it would be wisdom to ???? our new president   now the fact is that I can get every person

in my neighborhood to sign a petition for me as a peaceable citizen  I can hire a man here to go for me if you will be so kind as to let me have the chance  Now I will inform you the nature of that report of me threatening -- it was a company of what we call Swamp dragons who was some that belonged to the south and run off and joined the north and is new so -- of them at home in army against both sides and a man named Isaac Carr who was mad at me before the war was thought of said he would give them fifty dollars if they would catch me so I said if they came to disturb I would shoot some of them  they are not Union me but terrorists to all and my Union neighbors? they not suffer it done ? to me  Now this man is not believed on oath and is always been called a busy body  if you will give me the liberty to send I will bring certification enough to convince you that I am clear of any such thing as to disturb any Union   I beg of your ? excell?? the honor of letting me know if you will give me a chance or not  

   I am your very respectful servant

            Sam K. Nelson

   To the Hon Major Darr provost"

                                       RECOMMENDATION FOR HIS RELEASE

SAMUEL'S  RELEASE

                                                        

Adam Keller left here before the conflict ended.  Adam was in Missouri for a while, but things there must have been as bad as here. He finally settled in Iowa.  In Iowa, he spent the rest of his days as a farmer.  Dying there in 1888.

Samuel K. Nelson died on May 22, 1880.

 After consulting with several collectors and students of the longrifle,  I found that these two rifles are currently the only known work of Samuel K. Nelson. If you have a rifle signed "S K N," or "S Nelson," please contact us. We would like to see more of his work.
Samuel K Nelson can be found in Pendleton, Hardy & Grant County Census. He was actually in both the Pendleton & Grant Counties in 1870. Reporting at Upper Tract for Pendleton and Milroy District for Grant.

Special thanks to James Whisker for bringing these rifles to our attention. 

Thanks to Billie Jane McInernery, a descendant of Adam Keller, for helping us with the research and putting the puzzle together. 

These blogs are a work in progress, new info will be added or removed as we learn more.

                                                  

* Since we first posted this, one more Samuel K Nelson rifle has been found. We are always looking for more rifles made by him. If you have one, please contact us. We would be pleased to see it. Thanks.

                                                                           

                                                                                  

    

   

Ellis Houchin Pocahontas County Gunsmith

 Ellish Houchin was born in 1815.  Died December 15, 1882, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. 

                                                              Click image for larger view

Ellis Houchin is listed in the 1870 census as a farmer and gunsmith in Bartow, WV.  Ellis owned several thousand acres of property north of Bartow and supposedly sold it and then later returned to the community and bought it back. A portion of this property is locally known as Houchin Hollow.

It bordered the property owned by Abraham Burner, an ancestor of this writer. Abraham was a Revolutionary War veteran and owned over 8000 acres.

Thus, the Houchin and Burner families were neighbors. I point this out because of what follows.

Ellis Houchin had eight children. They youngest was a male named Jefferson Lee Houchin who was born in 1861. You might surmise Ellis’s political sympathies from the name chosen for his son during this period in our nation’s history. 

Jefferson Lee was reputedly one of the finest shots in the county and a good father and husband, unless he was “in liquor” . He was drinking on July 6, 1900 in Durbin, WV and Constable C. L. Burner told Houchin to get out of town or he would arrest him.

Jeff Houchin did leave town, but on the way out of town, he told John Townsend that he was going home to get his 45/90 and take care of “Bud”Burner. 

He did get his rifle, and return to Durbin, but Constable Burner saw him first and Jeff Houchin died of three gunshots, two to the heart.

An inquest held the next day by Justice Gillispie exonerated Constable Burner.

Besides this story that relates to my family’s history, I have also been informed of a possible connection by the maker of this rifle to Pocahontas County Civil War History.

Ellis Houchin may have been involved in the “Hanging Rock”ambush of Union Cavalry at Durbin in July of 1861. This was a classic “bushwackers” affair carried out by a group led by a “local gunsmith”. 

The ambush resulted in the death of seven Union scouts from Burdsal’s troop of Ohio Cavalry that were watering their horses in the Greenbrier River. One rider escaped. Read Rebels at the Gate by Hunter Lesser.

                                                                         

                                                                                    

                                                               Signed Ellis Houchin

                                                                                

                                                   October 23,1852 Parkersburg Gazette

                                                                               

                                                      Highland Recorder April 10, 1896

             Special thanks to Robert Sheets for sharing this rifle and story on Ellis Houchin. 

Bits & Pieces

  Many of the gunsmiths in the 1800s made approximately 20 rifles a year.  We believe some of the bigger shops in Hampshire County, such as Sheetz & Rinehart shops, produced more.   Where did they go? 

Some of the early Glaze rifles made near Springfield on Springfield Pike near Milleson's Bridge saw service in the American Revolution.  However, most of the makers here & the vicinity were active in their trade post-Revolution. The War of 1812 probably contributed to the demise of many.  However, the Civil War was the most efficient eliminator of Virginia-made rifles.  Many were destroyed in battles and horrible conditions, and others were confiscated from Rebels & citizens by Union Troops.   

Immediately after the Civil War, the old American Long rifle was nearly forgotten.  The birth of cartridge guns and war surplus was more than it could handle. 

So, where did the rest go?   As the stock became damaged with age and abuse, some were discarded, but parts that could be used for other tools were saved.  I believe a lot was lost to house fires that were so common until fairly recently.

Many old barrels, locks & brass parts also went into WWI and WWII war efforts.  During both wars, Americans actively sought and donated scrap metals to meet the massive demand for metals. 

While Bits & Pieces are not as desirable to a collector or student of the long rifle as the complete rifle would be, they are still a handy tool in studying the work of our early gunmakers.   

  All of the following relics are remnants of rifles made here in Hampshire County. 

Attributed to Zebulon Sheetz 1793-1867

                                                           Frederick Sheetz 1774-1861

                                                     Made by someone in the Sheetz Family 

                                                             George Young 1802-1875

                                                                                   

                                                             This Rifle Exploded in Half

                                                                                   

                                               George Young Rifle Barrel Signed G Young

                                                                            41" .45 cal.

                                                                               
                                                                      For More Info 

George Young

Frederick Sheetz

Zebulon Sheetz