RARE CIVIL WAR ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED HENRY RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER CAPT. SAMUEL HYMER.

RARE CIVIL WAR ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED HENRY RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER CAPT. SAMUEL HYMER. SN 6639. Cal. 44 CF. Usual configuration with 24″ oct bbl that has integral magazine tube, German silver front sight and a reproduction Henry ladder rear sight. Top flat has clear legible markings in two lines. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, straight stock with second type crescent brass buttplate with pointed heel. Receiver is period engraved, undoubtedly by a local jeweler with fine flourishes of zig zag foliate arabesque patterns on both sides. Right side is inscribed “Capt. S. Hymer / Co. D. 115th ILL. INF.” The front flat is engraved with a cannon and stack of cannonballs. Left side is engraved with a ribbon inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST” and the front flat an American flag atop a block house. The serial number was observed in its usual position back of the rear sight, on the left side of the lower tang under the wood, inside the top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. No additional disassembly was attempted to check for assembly numbers. Accompanied by a large packet of information regarding Capt. Hymer’s Company D defense of the block house, in Buzzard Roost Gap, Georgia on Oct. 13, 1864. With only himself and 41 men occupying the block house Capt. Hymer and his brave troops held off Gen. Hood’s Army of about 30,000 men that were accompanied by about 70 pieces of artillery for more than 12 hours, exacting a heavy toll on the Confederates before being forced to surrender in the face of insurmountable odds having run low on ammunition and defenses. The block house had been blasted down around them by continuous artillery pounding and they were basically defenseless. Capt. Hymer lost only five men killed and about ten wounded. For this heroic defense Capt. Hymer was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to the Brevette rank of Major. The attack was actually carried out by Gen. Bate’s Infantry of about 6,000 troops and artillery, truly astounding odds. Their stand at blocking Hood’s Army in the choke point of the pass through Buzzard’s Root Gap for those 10-12 hours allowed Gen. Sherman’s Army to gain the advantage which turned Gen. Hood away from his intended goal but not before causing the badly outnumbered Union Army to retreat leaving large quantities of stores and equipment which were appropriated by the advancing Confederates who burned what they could not carry during their retreat westward to Alabama. After the War Capt. Hymer moved to Kansas where he farmed and raised livestock taking interest in local politics. At some point Capt. Hymer moved back to Illinois and died in Rushville City May 13, 1906. A brief internet search disclosed a site titled www.rarewinchesters.com, which lists, under Chapter 2, “The Henry Rifle in the Civil War”, two Henry rifles in Company D, 115th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of which is this rifle, SN 6639, which is listed as belonging to Capt. Hymer. Wiley Sword’s book The Historic Henry Rifle: also lists this gun on pp82. Undoubtedly Capt. Hymer had the engraving applied during or shortly after the Civil War, or it was presented to him by his men. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain a deep strong plum blue/brown patina showing only minor sharp edge wear. Frame has slightly rounded edges and retains a dark mustard patina. Stock is sound with minor nicks & scratches and retains most of a fine oil finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate to heavy pitting. 4-37281 JR320 (45,000-65,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2241	$57,500.00	RARE CIVIL WAR ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED HENRY RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER CAPT. SAMUEL HYMER. SN 6639. Cal. 44 CF. Usual configuration with 24″ oct bbl that has integral magazine tube, German silver front sight and a reproduction Henry ladder rear sight. Top flat has clear legible markings in two lines. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, straight stock with second type crescent brass buttplate with pointed heel. Receiver is period engraved, undoubtedly by a local jeweler with fine flourishes of zig zag foliate arabesque patterns on both sides. Right side is inscribed “Capt. S. Hymer / Co. D. 115th ILL. INF.” The front flat is engraved with a cannon and stack of cannonballs. Left side is engraved with a ribbon inscribed “IN GOD WE TRUST” and the front flat an American flag atop a block house. The serial number was observed in its usual position back of the rear sight, on the left side of the lower tang under the wood, inside the top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. No additional disassembly was attempted to check for assembly numbers. Accompanied by a large packet of information regarding Capt. Hymer’s Company D defense of the block house, in Buzzard Roost Gap, Georgia on Oct. 13, 1864. With only himself and 41 men occupying the block house Capt. Hymer and his brave troops held off Gen. Hood’s Army of about 30,000 men that were accompanied by about 70 pieces of artillery for more than 12 hours, exacting a heavy toll on the Confederates before being forced to surrender in the face of insurmountable odds having run low on ammunition and defenses. The block house had been blasted down around them by continuous artillery pounding and they were basically defenseless. Capt. Hymer lost only five men killed and about ten wounded. For this heroic defense Capt. Hymer was awarded the Medal of Honor and promoted to the Brevette rank of Major. The attack was actually carried out by Gen. Bate’s Infantry of about 6,000 troops and artillery, truly astounding odds. Their stand at blocking Hood’s Army in the choke point of the pass through Buzzard’s Root Gap for those 10-12 hours allowed Gen. Sherman’s Army to gain the advantage which turned Gen. Hood away from his intended goal but not before causing the badly outnumbered Union Army to retreat leaving large quantities of stores and equipment which were appropriated by the advancing Confederates who burned what they could not carry during their retreat westward to Alabama. After the War Capt. Hymer moved to Kansas where he farmed and raised livestock taking interest in local politics. At some point Capt. Hymer moved back to Illinois and died in Rushville City May 13, 1906. A brief internet search disclosed a site titled www.rarewinchesters.com, which lists, under Chapter 2, “The Henry Rifle in the Civil War”, two Henry rifles in Company D, 115th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, one of which is this rifle, SN 6639, which is listed as belonging to Capt. Hymer. Wiley Sword’s book The Historic Henry Rifle: also lists this gun on pp82. Undoubtedly Capt. Hymer had the engraving applied during or shortly after the Civil War, or it was presented to him by his men. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain a deep strong plum blue/brown patina showing only minor sharp edge wear. Frame has slightly rounded edges and retains a dark mustard patina. Stock is sound with minor nicks & scratches and retains most of a fine oil finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate to heavy pitting. 4-37281 JR320 (45,000-65,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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