Catalog Auction info Auction #129 - Two-Day Sale, March 27th & 28th (#129) 03/27/2021 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/27/2021 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #175 27th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Side Drum of Milo Holcomb Cooley, Prisoner at Andersonville Deaccessioned from the New Britain Youth Museum Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$4,537.50 Estimate: $5,000 - $10,000 Description Description: This D.C. Hall, Boston drum is in about very good condition and has a very nicely hand-painted image of the Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on its face, surrounded by ''M. H. Cooley'' and ''Co. F 27th Mass Vols.'', this hiding beneath a light wash of what appears to be red milk paint. The hoops show an old red paint with what appears to be a white accenting stripe, the top hoop's edges showing minor nicks and dings from use. The heads are in very good condition as well, the top remains intact and un-torn, the bottom with the beginning of a small drying tear and light edge separation on one side, with a penciled name that is not readily discernible (''Edward'' can be made out). The body is painted an overall red milk paint and remains very good with light ingrained soiling and crazing of the finish. The lovely depiction beneath took a bit of deciphering using photography but once deciphered is readily recognized. A professional conservation would no doubt restore the image beneath to its original vividness. When the body was painted over with the red milk paint there were a few drips through the view hole, a couple dripped runs now visible on the interior maker's label. The maker's label itself is vivid and readable with a penciled name along its edge ''Edmund Barlow Granville'', perhaps Mr. Barlow was the fellow who ordered the drum from Hall in Boston. The tensioning ropes are likely later antique replacements done many many years ago, the tugs no doubt done at the same time as they are a bit dry, but certainly not degraded and flaked as civil-war-era leather would be; the snare cords on the bottom have separated but are present. Milo Holcomb Cooley was born in Granville, Mass. in 1837, and as a 24 year-old mechanic enlisted on 9/16/1861 as a Private and on 9/20/1861 mustered into the 27th Mass. Infantry, Co. F; later re-enlisting on 11/25/1863. The 27th was first sent to Annapolis, MD, then in January, 1862, were shipped to North Carolina and assigned to Foster's (1st) Brigade. The regiment fought at Roanoke Island and New Bern in December and remained in North Carolina during the next two years. During its stay in North Carolina it was engaged in numerous minor battles and skirmishes. In 1863, it aided in the siege of Washington, North Carolina. In April, 1864, assigned to the Army of the James, it embarked for Virginia, thence to Williamsburg, Fortress Monroe and Bermuda Hundred, where it landed and marched to Cobb's hill. Soon afterward, the 27th was sent into action at the battles of Dunn's farm and Port Walthall Junction, engaged at Arrowfield as well. On May 16, the regiment was engaged at the Battle of Proctor's Creek (Drewry's Bluff). After a brave defense of their position, much of the regiment was surrounded while fighting in a dense fog, subsequently 252 of its men were taken prisoner; some 120 of these men would later die suffering the appalling conditions at Andersonville, Cooley one of the ''lucky'' ones to survive. Although he survived the ordeal, like thousands of other prisoners, he suffered terribly, the effects on his health staying with him the rest of his life. After the end of the war he applied for an Invalid Pension. Charles W. Roberts, a fellow member of the 27th who also spent time at Andersonville supported Cooley's application in a written statement: ''While in Andersonville about the 1st of September Cooley was taken with the scurvy and I have seen him cut his gums a number of times while in prison and his teeth were also loose…. His ankles were affected and for more than a while unable to walk. While being taken from [illegible] prison to Blackshear prison we were on a platform car and by the severe rain and cold he contracted rheumatism in his legs. While at Andersonville I was obliged to help him in walking on account of the weakness in his ankles from scurvy and rheumatism.... I testify from recollection as I was with him, in the same mess, and lay with him, touching elbows when we slept, and he leaned on me when he was unable to walk. Your humble servant, C.W. Roberts''. Milo Cooley died in 1892 and is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, New Britain, CT. Interestingly, and no doubt very fittingly, his descendants still make drums in Granville Massachusetts, the Noble & Cooley Drum Co being one of the country's oldest continuous manufacturers of drums, having started in January of 1854, making drums in the Noble farmhouse kitchen. An amazing American drum from this son of New England who fought hard, was captured and suffered dearly in the most infamous of the Confederate Prison Camps. (3E9718-28) [Deaccessioned New Britain Youth Museum] (5,000/10,000) Categories: Miscellaneous Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. 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