New England Auctions
Live Auction

Baseball - Sports - Historical - Political

Sat, Jun 27, 2020 11:00AM EDT
Lot 166

Civil War Powder Horn - John Tobin

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$300 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$300,000 $25,000
$500,000 $50,000
Important Civil War Powder Horn - Capt. John Tobin, his horn. Incised with US shield, John Tobin His Horn encircling a compass rose. Elaborate incised dragon and serpent. Serpent denotes the route from New England, through NY, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Maryland Virginia, NC, SC to Georgia. An amazing specimen. Tobin was born in 1827. He served through the Civil war as a member of the Confederate army, first in Virginia, being present at the Battle of Manassas; second, in the naval warfare in the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and finally in the secret service in Mississippi, under Gen. Forrest. During the war, nearly all the steamboats were either burned or destroyed to prevent their falling into the hands of the Federals. Capt. Tobin was always proud of having spurned an offer from the Federals of $300,000 cash for his boat, the J. F. Paargoud, preferring poverty to treachery; his reply was his own order Òto burn his boat to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy.Ó L 10", Dia.2-1/2". See this link for high-res images https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8hrhb57gyql6iy8/AAAzYhjl2wvvx1HMpE5TsxWka?dl=0