1860s Ring & Letter.

Way back in 2020 I was a guest on the popular podcast 'What Should I Read Next?' where the host Anne Bogel recommended 3 'Books That Read like Letters' to me. After the archive was mentioned on the podcast several folks got in touch via DM including one woman who asked if she could send me 2 letters she'd recently 'found' and which were not family letters. Because of space and privacy issues I rarely accept letters via post but in this instance my curiosity was piqued. She sent a letter from the 1840s and a separate 1860s ring.

This is the story of the 1860s ring, note and beautiful hand beaded bag they arrived in.

The Ring Note:

The ring arrived wrapped in a yellowed piece of lined paper folded into the beaded bag -- all photographed below.

The note around the ring read:

Fought for North

This ring was made by great grandfather when he was in the Civil War in 1860. (While in the hospital) It is made out of a button that fell off his coat. The place where the stone should be was a piece of an oyster shell he had.

Mildred King (Koelu)

A quick Google image search for the deteriorating small beaded pouch which houses the ring and notes returns results such as 'Niagara Falls Coin Purse' or 'Native American Indian Iroquois' -- all from the 19th century or earlier which is era appropriate within +20/30 years so could be a late addition to the set.

Also included in the small beaded bag was a handwritten genealogy.

The Ring Itself:

The ring is a dark brown color and very light weight which tracks that it began life as a coat button! It features small details on either side of what Mildred tells us was a missing oyster shell center piece. Soldiers during the American Civil War often made trinkets or mementos from materials on hand. This fascinating ring is an example of American Civil War 'Trench Art'.

Further Reading:

If you're interested in learning more about the American Civil War via period authentic letters check out the book 'Between Home and the Front: Civil War Letters of the Walters Family' edited by Lynn Heidelbaugh and Thomas J. Paone.

Get in Touch.

Does this story capture your interest? Want to share a letter story with us? Write to info@fleamarketloveletters.com today. We look forward to hearing from you!