⭕ Civil War historic saddle purportedly used by Confederate Major John Pelham when he was killed in 1863. This is the exact saddle pictured in Howard Crouchs book Horse Equipment of the Civil War Era on page 73, published in 2003. This book accompanies the saddle.The saddle is described in this book as being a Well constructed saddle of a McClellan-type pattern. This saddle is covered in black leather with iron tacks and iron hardware. The leather is dry and cracking and the iron hardware is rusted with overall condition very good. The stirrups are bent wood. There is a 5 crescent shaped pewter plaque on the pommel which reads In This Saddle Our Hero/John Pelham/ Was Martyred at Kellys Ford VA March 17, 1863. Documented in the Loudoun Museum article The saddle, a gift to Pelham from the Dulaney family of the Welbourne estate near Upperville, was returned to the family when Pelham was killed at Kellys Ford in Culpeper County in 1863. No one can be absolutely sure this was the saddle Pelham was riding when he was killed, however, the plaque is very old and whoever applied this plaque thought so. Pelhams military history is listed below.

The saddle is accompanied by a period saddle blanket pictured on page 78 of Crouchs book. This is the exact blanket pictured.

This saddle is out of a serious private collection and was on exhibit June through September, 2003 at the Loudoun Museum located in Leesburg, VA. A lengthy newspaper article and picture displaying this artifact accompanies the grouping adding to the provenance.

Also included with grouping is a book titled The Gallant Pelham by Phillip Mercer and a wooden horse to display the saddle. All together you are bidding an historic grouping including the saddle, blanket, Howard Crouchs Book with this saddle documented, original newspaper article documenting the museum exhibit of this saddle, hardback book entitled The Gallant Pelham, and the well designed wooden display horse. A rare documented artifact like this doesnt come around every day.

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