Identified Presentation Cane to a Massachusetts Civil War officer (SOLD)

This is a very rare piece being offered, it is a Presentation Cane for a Massachusetts Civil War officer. The overall length of the cane is 35” and engraved into the solid ivory handle is “CAPT. / L.W. TAPPAN / JR”. It is surrounded by “Co H / 45 / MASS / VOLs”. The bottom of the cane has a brass tip.

Lewis W. Tappan enlisted in Company H of the 45^th Massachusetts as a 1^st Lieutenant in September 1862; a month later he was promoted to Captain. The 45th Regiment Massachusetts, or Cadet Regiment, was one of the new militia regiments raised in response to the call for volunteers on Aug. 4, 1862, for nine months troops. It received the title by which it was commonly known because of the fact that over forty of the commissioned officers of the regiment were former members of the Boston Cadets.

On Nov. 5, the regiment embarked on the steamer “MISSISSIPPI” for Beaufort, N. C., arriving at its destination on the 15th. Transported by rail to Newbern, it was here assigned to Amory's Brigade of Foster's Division. The regimental camp was established on the banks of the Trent River near Fort Gaston. Here the 45th remained, following the regular routine of camp life, until Dec. 12, when it set out with General Foster's expedition to Goldsboro.

At the Battle of Kinston, Dec. 14, the regiment had its first taste of real war, losing 15 men killed and 43 wounded. At Whitehall, Dec. 16, it was again engaged, losing 4 killed and 16 wounded. In a letter dated November 20, 1862, Thomas Kinsley of the 45^th writes “Ingraham was shot through the bowels and Woodman has the ball; he was buried near Graves; his last words were ‘God Bless My Wife’. Returned to battlefield after the fight and saw horrible sights; was short of food and had to take rations from the dead; were cheered by the other regiments when we marched into Kinston”.

On January 17, 1863, the 45th started on a reconnaissance to Trenton, returning on the 22d. From Jan. 26 to April 25, it served as Provost Guard in the city of Newbern. During this period, on March 14, occurred the Confederate attack on Newbern, of which the 45th was in reserve, but was not called into action.

On April 27 it started with Amory's Brigade on an expedition to Core Creek on the railroad toward Goldsboro. On the following day it was sharply engaged, taking a Confederate position which crossed the railroad near its intersection with the Dover Road, and losing one man killed and four wounded.

With the expedition ending, the regiment returned to its last camp, near Fort Spinola, just below Newbern, on the Trent. Here it remained until June 24, when it proceeded to Morehead City, a suburb of Beaufort, NC, and there took transports for Boston. Arriving at its destination June 30, the regiment was formally welcomed, then proceeded to its old camp at Readville where it remained until its muster out of the service July 8, 1863.

This is a beautiful cane and in very nice condition. Typical of old ivory, it shows some hairline surface cracks, not affecting the overall piece at all, even adding to its character. Apparently, Captain Tappan was thought highly of to receive such a gift. Included with the cane is a copy of his service records and a modern copy of a wartime CDV image of him. Identified Civil War canes are almost impossible to find, and if they do show up, are just about always priced over $1000.00. Actually seeing an image of him is a real bonus. This cane is a museum piece and would be the center piece of any Civil War collection.