Double Spike Soldier's Candle Holder, CS Fort Harrison (ON SALE)

Civil War soldiers iron “Double Spike Candle Holder”. It is measures approximately 1 1/4" x 2 1/4” and still has a piece of the iron spike remaining. This one has two sockets which would allow it to be used either in the ground or on a tree. These handy candle holders were sold by camp sutlers; they were small and convenient.  I had this piece for several years and acquired it directly from the digger who recovered it on private property at Fort Harrison, Virginia.

On September 29, 1864, 2,500 Union forces over ran and captured Fort Harrison. It was the strongest Confederate Fort on the Richmond-Petersburg line. The next day Lee personally organized a major effort to retake the fort but failed.

Fort Harrison consisted of a semi-circle of earthen works facing the Union lines. When the Union forces took it over they built earthen works facing the opposite direction, thus completing a circle. The Union renamed Fort Harrison to Fort Burnham, after the Union General killed in the September 29 attack.

This unique piece was recovered by the late Sam White. The candle holder is the much rarer type having the two sockets (can be used vertically or horizontally). It is very solid and has been coated with a varnish for preservation. There are examples of this item in all the relic books as well as The Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum (see pictures). There is also one pictured in "Fighting Men of the Civil War - Confederacy" (see pictures).