Civil War Painted Snare Drum Id'ed to Soldier
Well used Civil War Painted Snare Drum inscribed with soldier's name Stellwagon, Palo Alto, Penna. who was in the 48th Pa. Infantry. The drum is in found condition with full body & uncut with painted Spread Wing Eagle with folded American flag on a staff which is broken at the bottom. The painting is all there with chips & scratches from use & has strong colors intact. Around the drum body is also a great tack pattern that is circle around the view hole surrounded by square pattern. All of the tacks are present. Both hoops are original to drum are well are both heads. The hoops have a good amount of the original red paint intact while the drumheads exhibit sever wear & holes from used & age. The tension ropes and ears apprear to be original. On the bottom head has "Stellwagon, Palo Alto, Penna. There is also a star of David near the inscription. George Stellwagon enlisted in 6th Pa. Inf. in April 1861. This unit got added to the 48th Pa. Inf. in Sept. 1861. Stellwagon was with the 48th in the battles of Roanoke Island, New Berne, 2nd Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mtn & Antietam where Stellwagon was hit in the head by a bullitt. He was in the hospital until returning to the 48th in June 1863. He also reinlisted in 1864 & with the unit in the battles of the Wilderness & the mine assault at Petersburg. He mustered out in Va. on June 17, 1865. After the war he & his family lived in Dayton, Ohio & is buried in the National Cemetery there. The painting on the drum is different in that the Eagle does not look like the Union Eagles on Drums of that period. The Eagle has the folded over the staff which looks to be broken at the rear & the flag seems to be near the ground. Union units Eagles on their drums are a lot more patrotic than this. This drum may be a pick up off the field by George Stellwagon & brought home as a souvenir. I have copys of Stellwagon's day by day reports while in the service in the CW & it lists him as a private in the infantry not a drummer. I also have copies of his papers getting his pensions & he tells of being shot at Antietam in the head. Quite a bit of paperwork. The person who owned this drum before me had built a great display case which rotates so you can see the all of the drum. A really unique Painted Civil War Snare drum which may have been a Reb Drum. Man if only this one could talk!!!!
