Title

Civil War Mementos carved by Richard Jesse Bailey

Creator

Files

Date Original

1862-1865

Description

Private Richard Jesse Bailey, a musician in the regimental band of Company H, 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Infantry, C.S.A., carved these mementos during and after the Civil War.
The "Dixie Drinking Cup" was carved from a coconut shell as a memento of the Battle of Gaines Mill, Virginia, on June 27, 1862. The carving on the coconut reads "R.J. B. 3RD-ARK-REGT-INF-A.N.V. GAINES MILL VA. JUNE-1862." The other two sides read "DIXIE-DRINKING CUP." and "ASK FOR THE LIVING WATER." In between the words are geometric carvings. The bottom is carved in a checkered board style. The top is carved with a six pointed flower.
Dated July 1862, the spoon is a memento from Drewry's Bluff on the James River in Virginia. The carving on the top of the spoon reads "July 1862 Jesse." The back reads "3rd -ARK-REGT-INF-HOODS-TEXAS BRIG. LONGESTREETS - CORPS - A.N.V." Around the handle is carved a banner that reads "DREWRYS_BLUFF_ JAMES RIVER _ VIRGINIA." Linear and dot patterns are carved between the words.
The wood block was from the famous apple tree at Appomattox, Virginia, where General Lee and General Grant supposedly met. After General Lee's surrender, Private Bailey took a piece of the tree and was paroled at Appomattox on April 12, 1865. The front carving reads "FROM APPLE TREE APPOMATTOX C.M.-VA-1865." The back carving reads "WHERE GENERALS R. E. LEE. - AND- U. S. GRANT MET APRIL 9." The sides of the block read "3rd ARK REGT INF. TEXAS BRIGADE."

Biographical/Historical Note

Richard Jesse Bailey enlisted in Co. H, 3rd Arkansas Infantry, at Richmond, Virginia, on April 8, 1862. He transferred to regimental band in November, 1862. Bailey applied to the Arkansas Confederate Home in 1923, at which time he listed his residence as Garland County, Arkansas. Richard Jesse Bailey donated these items to the Arkansas State Archives in 1920.

Physical Description

1 cup 3.25" H x 2.75" D; 1 spoon 1.25" W x 8.25" L; 1

Subjects

Memorabilia; War

Contributor

Richard Jesse Bailey

Geographical Area

Arkansas; Appomattox (Va.); Drewry's Bluff (Va.); Gaines Mill (Va.)

Language

English

Identifier

ASA three-dimensional object collection, OC673A-C

Resource Type

Physical Object

Collection

ASA three-dimensional object collection

Publisher

Arkansas State Archives

Contributing Entity

Arkansas State Archives

Recommended Citation

Civil War Mementos carved by Richard Jesse Bailey, ASA three-dimensional object collection, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rights

Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.

Disciplines

United States History

Comments

Richard Bailey's carvings show the personal side of war. I can imagine him sitting around the campfire or waiting in the field with a pocket knife carving these mementos. - Julienne Crawford

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