Subject: Military weapons

A one-page letter dated October 8, 1858, written and signed by Morgan L. Smith (1822-1874), a Civil War brigadier general, to Major Alfred Mordecai at the Watertown Arsenal. The letter details armament for the fortifications at Fort Schuyler. Major Alfred Mordecai (1804-1887) was a distinguished military officer who served at West Point, oversaw fort construction, commanded the Washington Arsenal, and made significant contributions to military technology. He served in the Mexican War, observed the Crimean War, and authored important works on military ordinance. He notably retired from the U.S. Army in 1861 to avoid fighting in the Civil War.

A .36 caliber Savage Percussion Navy Revolver with a 7.125" barrel and serial number 1380. The revolver features a blued and color case-hardened finish, walnut grips, and side plate numbered 1380. Assembly number 613 is present on the frame, under the barrel, and inside both grips. The cylinder has assembly number 589. Standard three-line address and patent markings are on the top strap. The revolver shows sub-inspection markings. Approximately 20,000 of these revolvers were produced in the early 1860s, with 11,984 acquired by the U.S. government for the Civil War. This specific revolver is a Savage & North model 1861 Navy ball and cap proto-double action revolver. Designed by Henry North and Edward Savage in 1860, production ran from 1861 to 1862 by the Savage Revolving Firearm Company, which produced only 23,000 pistols before closing. It features a rare proto-double action system with a second trigger that cocks the hammer. The revolver has a 7" octagonal barrel, a six-shot cylinder, double trigger system, walnut grips, and an attached loading lever. It saw limited use by Union and Confederate regiments.