Case Civil War Epaulets Identified to Lieutenant R. L. Plaisted of Lowell, Massachusetts

Case Civil War Epaulets Identified to Lieutenant R. L. Plaisted of Lowell, Massachusetts - Inventory Number: IDE 164 

Civil War Infantry Officer’s Dress Epaulettes in Original Case – This fine pair of Civil War, Infantry Lieutenant’s, gilt dress epaulettes remain in fine condition. At the end of each epaulette is a gilded crescent of brass; beneath the bullion border at the end of each epaulette, hang double strands of bullion tassels. At the opposite end of each of the epaulettes, is a high dome, Massachusetts cuff button. The underside of each epaulette is with a deep, red Moroccan leather, with brass sliding attachments to affix the epaulette to the officer’s, uniform shoulder; there is some fraying to the Moroccan leather. The crescent shaped underside of each epaulette is made of golden velvet pads with light brown, buff leather borders. The epaulettes are housed in their original, pasteboard, case with original lid bearing the ink identification. The case remains in overall excellent condition. This is a superior pair of early war, infantry officer’s dress epaulettes used by a soldier who served in the 6th Mass. regiment which gained notoriety as the first unit in the Union Army to suffer fatal casualties in action during the Civil War in the Baltimore Riot and the first militia unit to arrive in Washington D.C., in response to President Abraham Lincoln's initial call for 75,000 troops. Private Luther C. Ladd of the 6th Massachusetts is often referred to as the first Union soldier killed in action during the war.

Rufus L. Plaisted:

Residence Lowell MA; 33 years old.

Enlisted on 4/22/1861 as a Paymaster.

On 4/22/1861 he was commissioned into Field & Staff MA 6th Infantry

He was Mustered Out on 8/2/1861 at Boston, MA

 (Comm. as Pay Master 08/15/60babbidge)

SIXTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA (INFANTRY) THREE MONTHS

     The 6th Regt. Mass. Vol. Mill, "Minute Men," was summoned to Boston by Special Order No. 14, issued on the afternoon of  April 15, 1861, from the office of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts.  At 7 o'clock on the evening of the 17th the regiment, fully armed and equipped, entrained for Washington.  While passing through Baltimore, Md., April 19, a detachment of four companies, C, D, I, and L, under Captain Albert S. Follansbee, was set upon by a mob, and in the street fighting which followed four members of the detachment were killed and thirty-six wounded, the first soldiers to fall in the Civil War.

      This regiment was the first to arrive in Washington completely uniformed and equipped for service.  It was at first quartered in the Senate Chamber in the Capitol.  Mustered into the service April 22, it was soon transferred to the Relay House near Baltimore.  In the occupation of Baltimore and in doing guard duty at or near the Relay House the regiment was occupied until July 29, when it entrained for Massachusetts.  Reaching Boston on the 1st of August, on the following day it was mustered out of the service.

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Inventory Number: IDE 164