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;  e-mail John 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 am hoping you can identify this pin. Above the tree it says, "Eternal Vigilance." Across the bottom, it says "Estis Defensoribus." I am pretty sure it is gold. It has an engraving on the back with initials and says, "From her brother," and is dated 1861. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. ­ Sheila B.

JS: I have tried to find out more on pin, but I can find nothing on what organization it could be. Unfortunately, there are many small and obscure Civil War Era fraternal and militia organizations we may know nothing of, as there history is now lost. The gold pin is marketable as there are collectors of any aesthetic gold badge. I think your badge will sell for about $1,000 or so with no history. If you could "pin" down the history, it could bring double this value, in my opinion.

I recently picked up a copper box item at a local antique shop in Florida. I was not sure what it was, but it looked like something that would go on a Civil War soldier's belt and hold important, small items. I could not find any info on my web search. I am sending a couple of pictures. Any help on the origins of the item and estimated price would be greatly appreciated. ­ Aaron G.

JS: Your "box" is a patented cartridge box for metallic cartridge ammunition from late in the Civil War, very few of these Kittredge cartridge boxes saw Civil War service, but many remained in supply and were used out west after the war. These cartridge boxes are popular among collectors today, and a box like yours can be found at a trade show for between $800 and $1,200.

John, I'm going through many Civil War items my late Uncle left me, and I am interested in values as well as where the best place would be to sell some of these things. I have other bits, but as I remember this one is the one he valued most. The tool I don't know the actual name of. I am pretty sure most of his stuff is original as he seldom bought replicas to my knowledge. ­ Jack S.

JS: Your horse bit and "tool" are U.S. military, but not Civil War. They both postdate the war and probably date to the 1880s. The "tool" appears to me to act as a picket pin, hammer, etc. I have not encountered that tool before. The bit I see priced at shows as Indian War Era and are usually priced at about $150. The tool I would guess has a value of at least a couple hundred dollars, but could be more.

On a side note, we also have Lyman's battle canteen and fork, his wedding vest and pictures of him at battle.

I would appreciate any advice you could give me with regards to the letters. We are not interested in selling them, but just want them to be preserved for another five generations. Our family is willing to invest some money to preserve these letters. Thank you for your consideration. ­ Jenn V.

JS: Groupings of Civil War letters are probably the most often encountered Civil War family items preserved. Letters could be easily stored for years in a small place with other family papers, whereas uniforms and guns and swords survive in families more rarely. During my three years on the Antiques Road Show, the single most common Civil War item brought to the military table was soldiers' letters.

Soldiers' letters are very collectible and can be one of the most interesting insights one can find concerning the most inner and personal feelings and observations of one of the pivotal points in American history. You have a good long run of letters that may give a glimpse of history not told anywhere else. Some soldiers wrote very little home, they generally complained about the lack of food or bad food, religion, the weather and other mundane happenings; their letters usually are sold at Civil War trade shows for $10-$20 each. Occasionally, soldiers wrote great letters, telling of little nuances of battle or camp life rarely read about, sometimes deep personal feelings and their insight into the unfolding of events; these letters can sell for hundreds of dollars each. I am sure in your 60+ letters there will be some good content.

If you want to preserve these letters, each should be gently unfolded and placed in acid-free archival folders, either transparent or solid. Several firms online sell these archival supplies. Letters should be all transcribed by a family member or pay for an expert at reading the old script. The letters should be arranged chronologically and maybe have the history of the events of the various campaigns inserted to help the reader follow the flow of the letters.

You have a great project ahead of you that many generations will be proud to read and gain an understanding of their ancestor's role in the American Civil War.

Note: You may remember back in the February issue of Southeastern Antiquing Magazine a reader sent in information about an inherited, one-of-a-kind Civil War drum with an inscription saying it had been found three miles from Fort Walter at Hilton Head, S.C., and that it was left by a drummer from the Berry Infantry of Georgia.

Admitting that it is difficult to put an exact value on uncommon items with remarkable provenance, John Sexton gave it an estimate of $5,000-$10,000 and "maybe more." The "maybe more" appraisal turned into $20,000 when the drum was sold by James Julia Auctions.

As John always says, "Unusual items need to be sold in an auction."