Confederate bullet found at the Hankey Farm, Gettysburg in 2015 (SOLD)

I recently acquired a collection of original Gettysburg Battlefield bullets with excellent provenance. This .58 caliber Confederate Gardner bullet was excavated by Curtis Plank in 2015 at the Hankey Farm, Gettysburg.

Approximately a thousand wounded individuals occupied these grounds during the battle, with only 39 recorded burials primarily from Daniel’s and Alfred Iverson’s brigades, with dates of death ranging from July 1 to July 26. All three field officers of the 23rd North Carolina were treated here after being wounded on the first day – Col. Daniel H. Christie, Lt. Col. Robert D. Johnston, and Maj. Charles C. Blacknall.

The Hankey family also provided shelter and food for 30 or more neighbors during the battle, including the widow Hartzell, her two small children, and her young black maid of about 20 years of age. When a soldier threatened to take the maid south with the army, Mrs. Hartzell appealed to a senior Confederate officer, who guaranteed the maid’s safety if she assisted in cooking for his wounded men.

The house served as cover for skirmishers from both sides and became a temporary Confederate hospital at the end of the day, treating both Confederate and Union soldiers. This bullet is contained within the acrylic display case pictured. It is a notable relic from Rodes' North Carolinians.