Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a phenomenal piece of U.S. Civil War history, an all-matching M1849 Colt Pocket Revolver attributed to Brevet Major General John Wilson Sprague, who served in the Union Army in the Western Theater of Operations and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor 32 years later in 1894 for his gallantry at the Battle of Decatur during the Atlanta Campaign in 1862. After the war, Sprague was heavily involved in the Reconstruction of the South. This revolver was formerly part of a small private museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The double-sided museum tag reads: .31 CAL POCKET MODEL COLT REVOLVER BELONGED TO BREVET MAJ. GEN. JOHN WILSON SPRAGUE C.W. UNION GENERAL “GENERALS IN BLUE” P.468 MOH WINNER 63RD OHIO COL. POPE’S ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI XVI CORPS IN SHERMAN’S MARCH TO THE SEA. This item was tagged like every other piece which was deaccessioned from the museum’s collection, and we believe it may have been part of a larger group to Wilson that was unfortunately split up decades ago.

The Colt "Pocket Percussion" Model 1849 revolvers in .31cal are essentially scaled down versions of the larger Navy Model 1851 in .36cal, and were developed concurrently. This lovely example features Serial Number 280248 on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and grip frame. The cylinder and cylinder arbor pin have shortened number 0248, while the barrel wedge shows 80248. This makes this a very desirable "ALL MATCHING" example of the M1849 Pocket revolver, with no parts swapped out over the years!

The serial number indicates the year of manufacture as 1866, just one year after the end of the U.S. Civil War, when Sprague would have been heavily involved in the Reconstruction of the American South. The revolver is nickel plated, which we believe was done post manufacture, as the markings are somewhat worn, and the “Stagecoach Robbery” cylinder scene is completely worn away, along with the “COLT'S PATENT / No.” marking. The finish is still well retained, however it is heavily worn away on several parts including the end of the cocking handle, part of the cylinder, and the barrel.
The later Colt "Single Line" address is still present across the top of the octagonal barrel:-

ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA

The COLTS PATENT marking is still present on the left frame under the cylinder, and the brass trigger guard has the correct 31 CAL marking on the left side. The walnut grips are in very good condition, with a lovely color and the expected patina of age. They still retain over 90% of the original factory “piano varnish” finish, and really look great.

The revolver functions just about flawlessly, with solid indexing and a firm cylinder lockup. We did not notice any of the usual finicky behavior we often see with revolvers of this age. The barrel to frame connection is solid, and the revolver breaks down correctly. The bore is in very good condition, with a partly bright finish showing clear lands and grooves. There is some overall oxidation and wear to the rifling, but for a black powder era percussion revolver, this is definitely a very nice bore.The brass front sight is still present and in very good condition. All 5 cap nipple cones are intact and clear, though they do show some oxidation and powder burn to the exterior.

John Wilson Sprague was born in White Creek, Washington County, New York, on April 4, 1817. He attended local district schools and at age 13 he entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in nearby Troy, Rensselaer County, New York. In 1845 he moved to Ohio and from 1851-52 he served as Treasurer of Erie County.

Soon after the outbreak of war in 1861, Sprague recruited a company which became part of the 7th Ohio Infantry, a 3-month regiment which reenlisted for three years in June. On January 23rd, 1862, he became colonel of the 63rd Ohio, which he led at New Madrid and Island No. 10 in John Pope’s Army of the Mississippi. At the battle of Corinth in October 1862, nine of his thirteen line officers and 45% of his total force were killed or wounded. Thereafter and until the beginning of W.T. Sherman’s campaign against Atlanta, the XVI Corps, to which Sprague’s regiment was attached, served mainly in garrison at various points in West Tennessee. In April, 1864, Sprague was assigned to command a brigade of the 4th Division of the corps and on July 30th, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Years later he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for having saved the corps’ trains at Decatur, Georgia, on July 22nd, 1864. During the operations incident to the withdrawal of Hood northeastward into Alabama and Tennessee, the 4th Division of the XVI Corps became the 1st Division of the XVII Corps and was briefly commanded by Sprague. Again in brigade command, he accompanied Sherman in the “March to the Sea” and through the Carolinas and was brevetted Major General of volunteers to rank from March 13th, 1865.

After the war, Sprague engaged in railroad construction, and in 1870 was general manager of the western division of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and became one of the founders of the city of Tacoma in Washington State. He resigned from the railroad in about 1883 but remained in Tacoma, where he was one of the leading business figures in the city until his death on December 24th, 1893. General Sprague was buried in Tacoma Cemetery.

Sprague joined George H. Thomas Post No. 5 of the G.A.R. in Olympia, Thurston County, Washington on April 13. 1881 as one of the 14 charter members. He later transferred to Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington, where he served as Post Commander in 1887. The next year he was elected, unopposed, as Commander of the Department of Washington Territory (1888-89). The Gen. John W. Sprague Camp No. 4 of the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (today Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War) was named in Sprague’s honor.

This is a tremendous example of a Post-Civil War M1849 Colt Pocket Revolver, attributed to a Medal of Honor Recipient and a Union General of the Civil War who saved his corps’ trains during the horrific Battle of Atlanta. This piece comes ready for further research and display! 

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1866
Caliber: .31cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 9 inches
Action: Single Action Percussion
Feed System: 5 Shot Revolver

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