Preserved leather in a creekbed

[Keith S]

Hello all.

I found this in a silty/muddy area in several feet of water. At first I thought it was some kind of pommel holster but the iron tipped end is not like anything I have seen. It appears to have had some tassels as a few bits remain. The bands are riveted brass.

Found at a ferry landing along with several Civil War items including breastplates, bullets, musket tools, etc. Any ideas?

Thanks for looking,
Keith

 

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[old digger]

Welcome to TNET!

Looks like an amputee's prosthetic boot. Hope you didn't find the rest of the person down stream?

 

[Sentrom]

I am not sure what it is. However now that the item was removed from the water/silt/mud. You should consider how best to preserve it.
An interesting article you may wish to read.

Leather Conservation - Conservation Manual - Conservation Research Laboratory - Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation - Texas A&M University

 

[cw0909]

old digger might have it
Confederate soldier James Edward Hanger
https://www.asme.org/engineering-to...ivil-war-and-birth-of-us-prosthetics-industry
.Artificial Legs manufactured by James Gillingham (1839-1924)
We've Come a Long Way, Baby! on Pinterest

 

[Peyton Manning]

guessing a stump holster

 

[parsonwalker]

Wow. Now THAT'S somethin' right there! How about pics of your other finds?

 

[releventchair]

Quite a find there Kieth.
A lot of missing limbs during civil war. A prosthetic not used shortly after amputation becomes a nuisance,I know. Too, today anyway, a "shrinker" often used to try to form a stump prior to fitting a prosthetic but your find seems an item for use as a prosthetic. Soaking a leather bucket made to fit a prosthetic would allow the critical shape fitting of residual portion of limb on opposite end, the more secure and no pistoning effect the better.. On installations where flesh fit allows, a port is added to relieve vacuum pressure during donning as well as removal and released/resealed to allow a suction grip when properly positioned. A fit fades during weight gain or through shrinkage normally up to three years after amputation and from artrophy from not using muscles. At that point that a new fitting or new prosthetic required. So an ill fit,or a dislike of appliance may be why it was in the creek to soak or was simply discarded.

 

[Micky]

What an interesting find.

 

[Breezie]

That is an outstanding find; I can't wait to see it cleaned and conditioned.

My great grandfather lost a leg during the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861 and was assigned to the North Carolina 7th Regiment Infantry. On March 14, 1862, this Regiment fought in the Battle of New Bern. The Union General Ambrose Burnside captured New Bern, which was North Carolina’s second largest city and seaport. Without this seaport, the CSA were not able to receive shipped supplies. The Battle of New Bern was a bloody battle, and the Confederates suffered 64 killed, 101 wounded, and 413 captured. My g-grandfather was shot in the leg, and it had to have it amputated. The NC 7th Infantry was then called to Virginia, but my g-granddaddy was sent to Richmond, VA to get a 'wooden' leg.

After getting an honorable discharged and settling back into home life, he opened a General Store. After his death, the store continued operation by family, and his wooden leg hung on the wall. Several years later it was stolen!

Sorry for the ramblings, but your find brought back some memories.

Breezie

 

[bdsawyer]

Very interesting find, and would also love to see pics of your other finds as well!

 

[Keith S]

Thanks everyone. I thought that was a possibility and after reading your replies I'm convinced. Now I need to find a way to stabilize the leather. I'm going to contact the Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, MD and talk to those folks about preservation; hopefully someone there will be helpful. I have it sitting in a bucket of water for now.

I haven't taken many photos but I do have a photo couple photos of the breatplate I'll share. Excuse my mug:

 

[Quik434]

Amazing finds! Done any research on the name on the plate?

 

[Discrimination Dave]

Say, what is the name on the plate? M.W. Bennet? Benn?

 

[Keith S]

Say, what is the name on the plate? M.W. Bennet? Benn?

The name is MW Benn. I'm thinking it might be short for Bennett.

I have not done any research other than to type the name into a Google search. I figure it's a long shot without at least a regiment ID.

Keith

 

[scott9050]

Found one here for a start:

McHenry County Civil War Vets