If you have a Civil War item that you can't identify or something you want to know the value of, contact John (mail: Box 510, Acworth, GA 30101; email John at seantiquing@go-star.com with Civil War in the subject line or call 770-329-4984 or 770-974-6495). John needs a good description of the item, condition, manufacturer's marks and any other markings, and photos. Please Note: All questions MUST be accompanied with a Photo, it should not be more than 200k in file size.

I have a Civil War ID tag that I am interested in selling but do not have a great idea of the value. I have found a couple of examples, but the pricing is all different. I am attaching pictures. Notice that Schenectady is spelled with an “N” twice. Thanks for looking, and I appreciate and look forward to your opinion.

JS: Civil War dog tags are popular collectibles. There are quite a few different variants; although, most are token-style like yours, just over one inch in diameter. Civil War dog tags were sold by sutlers (merchants or salesmen) in Union camps and often identified soldiers killed in the field. Dog tags like we know from World War I and World War II issued by the military were not available during the Civil War.

Most Civil War dog tags were made of brass, but maybe 20% or so were made of pewter, like yours. Your tag is in relatively good condition. Though the bust of George Washington is worn, there is still some original luster. Pewter tags often are in poor condition, many being battlefield-excavated and have ground action showing pitting and flaking. Tags are valued by condition, unit and history of combatant named.

William H. McKinney entered the war on May 2, 1861 in the 18th New York Infantry. He later transferred to the 16th New York Heavy Artillery and finally mustered out August 22 of 1865. The units he was a part of saw some action in the Army of the Potomac, but they were mostly garrison troops around Washington, D.C. More identified dog tags are probably seen from units around this area as there were many sutlers selling their wares around our Capital.

You can find identified tags in poor condition with average history for $300 or less. Tags in good condition belonging to soldiers in popular units or who had interesting histories during the war have sold for as much as $2,000-$3,000. No doubt, your tag with a lackluster soldier history but in good condition that presents itself nicely will sell for $600-$700, but it could bring more from a collector specializing in Schenectady, New York, in the Civil War. 

Mr. Sexton, attached is the photo of an 1836 cannon. The diameter of the barrel is 3 5/8 inches with “L.W.R.” at the end of it. The length is 51 inches; with the knob at the end, it measures 58 inches, with U.S. marking on the top, “1836” on one side of the barrel. I cannot fully read the other side; “J.M.” is all I can read.

JS: Your cannon appears to be one of several variants of a model 1827 US iron six-pounder gun. The weight seems a bit high to me at 880 pounds, but the 1836 date, the US surcharge (stamping) on top of the barrel, and inspection marks are consistent with known models. Pre-Civil War field cannon are scarce, especially iron, though bronze tubes are much more desirable and valuable.

A model 1841 bronze six-pounder, which is very similar in dimensions and length, sells typically for more than $50,000. I have not seen your model at auction before, but the more commonly seen model 1819 (of which your tube is a variant) generally are priced in the market in the $10,000 range, just for tube. Your carriage appears well made and a close copy of the correct field carriage in use during the Mexican and Civil Wars. At a well advertised auction, I would imagine your cannon on carriage would sell for between $12,000 and $20,000. 

In my home, I just found appointment papers from 1865 from the State of Vermont. The paper is addressed to Captain Charles H. Sheldon. I looked him up, and he went on to become the second governor of South Dakota. I'm located in San Jose California. I'm assuming my late father had gotten this document through his disposal business, a dumpster company. He would get a lot of antiques this way. Any thoughts?

JS: Your document is a Civil War commission from the State of Vermont for Charles H. Sheldon who was promoted at the end of the war to the rank of captain. The 7th Vermont Infantry saw little action until the end of the war. The 7th was involved in the battles of Spanish Fort near Mobile, Alabama, and prior to 1865, they were garrisoned around New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The 7th was decimated by illness while encamped in Louisiana, losing more than 400 men to disease; their casualties in battle only amounted to about 30 men during the entire war. Charles and his brother George Sheldon both served with the 7th Vermont and survived the war.

The Seventh Vermont Infantry was stationed in Texas until mid-1866 on garrison duty, which may have given Charles Sheldon his taste for the West. He moved to the Dakota Territory and became a farmer, later going into politics and serving two terms as governor of the new State of South Dakota. Charles Sheldon died and is buried in Deadwood, South Dakota. Sheldon died at the famous Seth Bullock Hotel in 1889 where he had just given a speech days earlier. Seth Bullock and his hotel are well known from the HBO miniseries Deadwood.

Your document appears in excellent condition and is signed by the wartime governor of Vermont, J. Gregory Smith. Typically, such state commissions are priced for about $100-$200 by dealers. In a well advertised auction in South Dakota or where interest in Dakota history is appreciated, this document could bring a premium. Otherwise similar documents are not highly sought in the Civil War collector's market.