parsonwalker
Bronze Member
Huntin' in the trenches - Need I.D. on Civil War Telegraph wire insulator
VERY difficult and slow day in the Virginia trenches. Super humid. It about wrecked me. Came out with just a dropped 3-ringer and another fired, two enfields (One with a little paper still there), percussion caps and a small iron buckle.
![IMG_4987.JPG IMG_4987.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/974/974998-672575aa192c164fbe926aa613f4dd1e.jpg)
Digging for a bullet, and out popped this telegraph wire insulator. I was told it's called a "top hat" or "Puritan's hat" and could be Richmond made. Found one example like mine online, going to auction with an "estimated sale value" of $1800 - $2200. Said it was a rare CW "Puritan's hat" style, but no info on whether Southern or Northern Manufacture.
The auction example is complete, while mine is obviously VERY broken. I would assume it has virtually no value, but if anybody can tell me anything about it, I would really appreciate it. Can't figure out how it got into a trench, but a small fort was about 100 yards away. Wonder if the fort had telegraph communication with Richmond? (Less than 10 miles away) I plan to post in "What Is It?" as well.
![IMG_4988.JPG IMG_4988.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/975/975000-e76438a5f9775eeed3c2646504eada07.jpg)
![IMG_4989.JPG IMG_4989.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/975/975005-a9e558f35414866e286e76efee1a1f64.jpg)
![IMG_4990.JPG IMG_4990.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/975/975006-f68e8a437d2a02ff40f7bd5124910698.jpg)
VERY difficult and slow day in the Virginia trenches. Super humid. It about wrecked me. Came out with just a dropped 3-ringer and another fired, two enfields (One with a little paper still there), percussion caps and a small iron buckle.
![IMG_4987.JPG IMG_4987.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/974/974998-672575aa192c164fbe926aa613f4dd1e.jpg)
Digging for a bullet, and out popped this telegraph wire insulator. I was told it's called a "top hat" or "Puritan's hat" and could be Richmond made. Found one example like mine online, going to auction with an "estimated sale value" of $1800 - $2200. Said it was a rare CW "Puritan's hat" style, but no info on whether Southern or Northern Manufacture.
The auction example is complete, while mine is obviously VERY broken. I would assume it has virtually no value, but if anybody can tell me anything about it, I would really appreciate it. Can't figure out how it got into a trench, but a small fort was about 100 yards away. Wonder if the fort had telegraph communication with Richmond? (Less than 10 miles away) I plan to post in "What Is It?" as well.
![IMG_4988.JPG IMG_4988.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/975/975000-e76438a5f9775eeed3c2646504eada07.jpg)
![IMG_4989.JPG IMG_4989.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/975/975005-a9e558f35414866e286e76efee1a1f64.jpg)
![IMG_4990.JPG IMG_4990.JPG](https://www.treasurenet.com/data/attachments/975/975006-f68e8a437d2a02ff40f7bd5124910698.jpg)
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