 |
In
the fall of 2003, we were contacted by an individual in South
Carolina who claimed that he was in possession of a wooden trunk
that had been owned by Lt. Charles T. Watson, the quartermaster
of the 3rd Maine from June, 1861 to June 1864. Examinations
of photos of the trunk and a little research revealed that the
item had indeed belonged to Lt. Watson. The trunk had received
some damage from use as a piece of furniture and from Hurricane
Andrew. Charged with preserving Maine's Civil War history, the
members of the current 3rd Maine negotiated to purchase the
trunk and bring it home for the people of Maine. We ultimately
decided that the trunk would be most safely preserved and available
for the largest number of people to see if it were turned over
to the Maine State Museum in Augusta. In June, 2004, Lt. Watson's
trunk was donated to the Museum for preservation and display.
Lt.
Charles Watson was from Bath, Maine and was only 22 years old
when he volunteered. He died on May 9,1913, in Ballston, New
York. After his death, his remains were shipped home to Bath
and buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
|
| Photographs
of Lt.
Watson's Trunk |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Maine State Museum placed Lt. Watson's trunk on display
in the Museum's front entrance in August, 2005. The trunk
will be one of the few Civil War artifacts on permanent
display. |
|
For those who may wish to build a replica of the trunk, the
measurements are 35.5 in. long by 18 in. wide (outer dimensions
of the lid and base) by 20 in high (from the base to the top
of the lid). Tight dovetailed joint construction was used and
it appears that the top, bottom, front, back, and sides of the
trunk were built from single planks of 0.75 in. thick wood.
(Some surface cracks developed over time.) The lid extends over
the front and sides by about 0.75 in. and is flush with the
back. 3.25 in. high strips of beveled 0.75 in. thick wood surround
the outside of the base. The configuration of the internally
mounted iron hinges, the hasp, and the rope handles on the sides
can be seen in the photographs.
|
Back
to the History page.
|
