Bidspirit auction | SGT. PETER HART MINIE BALL

SGT. PETER HART MINIE BALL AND CARTRIDGE FROM FORT SUMTER, APRIL 12, 1861 - A fine relic from the opening battle of the Civil War, a two-ring Minie ball and paper cartridge kept by hero Sgt. PETER HART following the surrender of the Union force which attempted to hold the island for. Hart is best remembered as the brave soldier who climbed Sumter's shell-shattered flagpole to repair it under fire so it could still fly the American flag during the battle. The ball, partly wrapped in its original paper, is accompanied by the now-empty paper cartridge which once held the powder used to fire the bullet. Also present is the original 4 x 2.25 in. period note in Hart's hand reading: 'Fort Sumter Cardriges April 12th 1861 Sergt. P. Hart' Hart had served with Sumter commander Major Robert Anderson during the Mexican-American War. He personally escorted Anderson's wife to Charleston for her visit, and remained to assist his old commander. Hart's heroic act of nailing the fort's shell-torn flag back to its pole during the battle made him a national hero, the first of the war. Hart also managed to rescue the flag and took it with him in his carpetbag when the fort was evacuated on April 14, 1861. He returned to Fort Sumter with the same in February, 1865, when it was once again raised over the fort following its recapture. A great historical relic!