Civil War Brigadier General Moffitt 96th Infantry Regt Escutcheon Oil Painting

  
Title: Civil War Brigadier General Stephen Moffitt 96th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment Escutcheon. Description: Wondaful Civil War escutcheon for Stephen Moffitt, Brigadier General of the 96th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Besides the obvious signs of wear and fading this fantastic piece is done on canvas backed by the original wood frame and hardware. Beautiful rich colors throughout this piece and still exhibits some quality gilt paint throughout.

Superb New York State Seal in the front along with the Generals historical achievements and services in the Civil War. In 1868, Civil War veteran John P. Reynolds of Massachusetts patented a system of displaying a veteran's service record as a work of art. The general design was a shield with portions designated to the veteran's ranks, positions, units, and the battles in which they participated.

By 1875, Reynolds had taken on Walter C. The company displayed the escutcheons of several well-known leaders including Generals U.

The Reynolds-Strickler partnership ended by 1888. Stephen Moffitt was born in Clintonville, August 6, 1837. At the age of 15 years Stephen became a cabin-boy on the steamer "Francis Saltus" for Captain Lot Chamberlain, on Lake Champlain. He remained in the employ of the Champlain Transportation Company until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he opened a recruiting office in Plattsburgh, and was the first man who enlisted in the 96th Regiment, New York State Volunteers. He enlisted as a private, and upon the mustering in of the regiment, was made 1st Lieutenant of Company B.

Parsons died on June 16, 1862, he was promoted to captain. On May 19, 1863, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and, on May 31, 1865, was commissioned colonel of his regiment and brevet brigadier-general United States Volunteers. From April, 1863, to 1864, while lieutenant-colonel, he served on General Wilton Wessell's staff. The history of General Moffitt's military career is a record on many of the severest battles of the war.

In an unsuccessful charge of the Army of the James, at the 2nd Battle of Fair Oaks, October 27, 1864, while the enemy were driving them back amid a terrific fire of shot and shell, he lost a leg in the endeavor to carry from the field a wounded private who was crying piteously for help. At the battle of Plymouth, April 16, 1864, he was captured and sent to Libby prison, and subsequently to Danville and Macon, GA, and was one of the 50 officers placed under fire at Charleston, SC, when that city was bombarded by the Union fleet. He was mustered out with the regiment Feb.

In 1867 he was elected Clerk of Clinton County, as was re-elected in 1870. On January 23, 1873, he resigned this office and was appointed warden at Clinton Prison, and remained there until a change of administration in 1876. He was a Republican, and one of the leading members of that party in northern New York. He was a delegate at large from this State to the National Republican Convention at Philadelphia that nominated General Grant for the Presidency, and was a member of the Republican State Committee for the years 1868 to 1873. He was also a member of General John Gibbons' staff, and was provost-marshal of the 24th Army Corps from its organization to the close of the war.

After the war, he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue for Clinton County, New York in 1866. In 1867, he was elected County Clerk, resigning in 1878 to accept the post of agent and Warden of Clinton Prison, which he held until 1876, when President Ulysses S. In 1888, he was elected Assemblyman from Clinton County. The General died on January 3, 1904. Condition: Fair, various signs of damage, stains, cracks, splits, flaking etc.

Please refer to photos for further condition report. Approx Measurements: 25" by 30" and 3/4 thick. Like most, I picked up the collecting bug many years ago when I was younger rummaging through the nooks and crannies of my grandparent's summer house in upstate New York.

Today, you can still see me doing the same thing, only I don't fit through much of those spots anymore but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the thrill of the hunt. Since I know you have the same eclectic tastes as I do because your reading this, please checkout my other items section as I always have new unusual stuff coming in!

It is my believe that the condition of an item is subjective, so I encourage you to look over each photo for your own condition assessment and when needed, inquire about additional photos or information regarding any of my items. As with any vintage item, there is expected to be some general signs of use and wear; if there is no mention that an item is New or Mint, you should expect this to be the case.

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