Gettysburg Battlefield Relic Collection

(above and below) A Confederate tin drum "Johnny" canteen, found on Washington St. in the town of Gettysburg. Originally from the John Plank Geiselman Collection.

(above) A US Model 1840 Cavalry Saber aka "the Wristbreaker" found on East Cavalry Field. From the John Plank Geiselman Collection, originally from the Chritzman Collection.

(above) An 1862 Shorts patent knapsack from the J. Howard Wert Collection of Gettysburg relics. The knapsack is item number 122 and bears the white stenciled unit markings of 2 H 5. Typically unit markings on knapsacks identified regiment and company. If this is the case with this item the markings would indicate 25th regiment company H. There was only one regiment at Gettysburg designated the 25th and that was the 25th Ohio who fought on Barlow's Knoll on the first day's field.

(above) A section of tree with minie ball from Rose's Woods in the southern part of the WheatField, old typed tag reads, "Gettysburg Battle-log, Cut from a tree in Rose's Woods at the south end of the Wheatfield". From the John Plank Geiselman Collection but originally from the Henry Bittle Collection. The tree section measures 14 1/2" long, 3 1/2" thick, and 5" wide and still has the bark of the tree on one side.

(above) An 1861 US cartridge box, with waist belt and US buckle, found on the Granite Schoolhouse Lane in Gettysburg. Cartridge box has both tins and corner flap turned up from use. Soldier modified the box so as to be worn on the waist belt. From the John Plank Geiselman Collection, originally from the Rider Collection.

(above) US 3" Hotchkiss Shell found on the Rose Farm. This shell was found in the small run that lies in front of the Rose Farm house adjacent to The Wheatfield by Lester Little. Originally from the John Plank Geiselman Collection.

(above) A Confederate 4.52" 12lb spherical shell found on the Rose Farm and used by the farmer as a farm weight. Originally from the John Plank Geiselman Collection.

(above) Wooden door from the "Widow Pfeffer's house" that was located on the Baltimore Pike at the southern base of Cemetery Hill.This house was used as General Meade's headquaters from July 4-7 while planning the pursuit of Lee's army. The door was originally recovered by two local historians in Gettysburg, sold to the Horse Soldier, purchased then by John Plank Geiselman.

(above) A US Model 1858 Smooth Sided Canteen. The canteen has an impression of a wagon wheel over the entire body, about 2" below the spout. The brown wool cover is intact and has original slings.Old handwritten tag reads "This canteen was picked at Gettysburg 1864". Click here for enlarged photos of canteen

Close-up Photo of Wheatfield Display

(above) A large display of minnie balls and relics from The Wheatfield. This display is originally from from the John Plank Geiselman Collection and contains 87 assorted minnie balls found on The Wheatfield including a rare Confederate shotgun slug, a fired minnie with wood in it, and various pulled minnie balls. The relics in the center of the display consist mainly of pieces of soldier's accoutrements such as rifles, shoulder scales, haversacks, saddles, rings from capboxes, and cartridge boxes.

(above) A US .58 caliber cartridge box with original shoulder strap and eagle breastplate still attached. Strap is torn near top where soldier had cut slits to make strap more loose. Recovered on the Chambersburg Pike, on the first day's field. From the John Henry Kurtz Collection.

(above) US Percussion Cap Box found on Little Round Top. Originally from the John Plank Geiselman Collection and before that from the Pitzer Collection.

Close up Photos of Trostle Relics

(above) A large plate of minnie balls and relics from the Trostle Farm. There are 55 dropped minnie balls including C.S. Gardners, Federal .58 Caliber minnie balls, .69 round balls, and various other Federal types. Old tag reads,

"3 Corp,Trosel Farm, Cumberland T.S." Originally from the John Plank Geiselman Collection.

(above) A dish of relics from Seminary Ridge. The relics include a Union Eagle Breastplate, two Burnside cartridges, and an assortment of dropped and fired minie balls. Originally from the John Plank Geiselman Collection.

(above) A Non-Commissioned Officer's sword belt plate buckle that was recovered on the McPherson Farm at Gettysburg by Arthur Shields himself and displayed in the Shields Museum.

An 1861 Springfield Rifle found on the Gettysburg battlefield soon after the battle. The rifle is from the Longstreet Park Shop that was run by "Pappy Swope" who displayed and sold relics from the battlefield (1950s-1970s) and from the S.Edward Swope Gettysburg Collection.

(above) A Spencer carbine bayonet found by John Geiselman himself on Culp's Hill. This is reportedly the only documented relic Spencer bayonet recovered at Gettysburg. The first reported Confederate use of a Spencer was by Sergeant W.O. Johnson, Co. C of the 49th Virginia Infantry on July 3rd 1863. He used a Spencer carbine in the fighting around Culps Hill at the battle of Gettysburg. One can only speculate if this was from the carbine used by Sergeant Johnson, it is however a possibility.

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