This is an interesting whiskey flask we recently acquired from a picker in Pennsylvania.  It's inscribed Major R.H. Fitshugh 9th Ms. Battery Lt. Artillery.  Its made of what appears to be pewter and stamped James Dixon & Sons with some sort of lot number underneath. It measures 7 1/2" overall, 4" wide, and 2" thick.  At first glance, I would have guessed this was run through the blockade and ended up in the hands of a Confederate Major but after doing some light research, the answer was a little surprising.  We believe this actually belonged to a Union officer named Major R.H. Fitzhugh.  Major Fitzhugh was in command of several artillery batteries during the war....a couple of which helped repel Pickett's charge at Gettysburg.  It appears this was a gift from the 9th Massachusetts Battery Light Artillery which was under Fitzhugh's command for part of the war.  The flask is in very good condition with no split seams or signs of serious damage.  I'm sure some more research would turn up a great deal more on Fitzhugh.

Item# 0703

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