Collections record Beta

Walking Stick

1912-01-3

Wooden walking stick with gold cap at top. Cap engraved, "Mrs. Wessells/ & Co. C to/ Col. L.W. Wessells/ Dec 25th., 1862." Cap also engraved with stylized foliage.

On December 25, 1862 Col. Leverett W. Wessells received this walking stick as a Christmas gift. According to family tradition it is made from the branch of a tree that grew over George Washington’s tomb at Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Wessells was said to have pick up the stick when visiting the site, and after having it prepared for use as a cane the gold cap was added by request of members of the 19th CT Regiment. Leverett W. Wessells, the first Colonel of the 19th CT Regiment, was born in Litchfield on July 28, 1819. He enlisted on July 25, 1862, and was commissioned Colonel on the same day. Prior to the war he had been prominent in public affairs and served for twelve years as Sheriff of the community. Ill health interfered with his military service however, and he was honorably discharged on September 15, 1863. He was later appointed Provost Marshal for the Fourth District of Connecticut, and was finally discharged on October 5, 1865 at the end of the war.

1862

Length 27 1/2"

• wood
• gold