George Bucklin, Civil War Captain Of Black Troops, Early Boy Scouts Supporter
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:2815648 | Region of Origin: US |
| Subject: Military & Political | Photo Type: CDV |
CAPTAIN GEORGE BUCKLIN, OUTSTANDING AMERICANCivil War Veteran, Officer of African American Troops, Businessman, Benefactor of the Boy Scouts
Description: This rare lot includes TWO carte-de-visite (4x2.5 inches) portraits of Captain George Bucklin (1843-1918), in his uniform when serving with the 14th Regiment of the Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored). In both portraits, taken in the same Providence, RI studio of the Manchester Brothers, Bucklin poses in his dress officer’...s uniform, with his sword at his side. Several great details are visible in the the portraits, including the double bars on his shoulder straps, designating the rank of captain, and (in one portrait) his officer’s kepi-style cap is on the table, with a captain’s piping sewn on, as well as a crossed cannons and the numeral “14” for the 14th Regiment. Superb!
The lot includes a BOOK, by William H. Chenery, detailing the HISTORY of the 14th RI Heavy Artillery, whose officers were white and enlisted men black, as was the practice in the Civil War for regiments of African American troops. This hardbound book is a reprint, published by the Negro University Press in 1969, and it includes a history of the regiment as well as portraits and accounts of the officers of the regiment, including Capt. Bucklin (one being a reproduction of one of the photos included in this auction. Capt. Bucklin was named to the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 1981.
Capt. Bucklin went into real estate after the war, buying land in Rhode Island. Bucklin became interested in Scouting when an unnamed Scout helped him across a Providence street and then refused a tip. A bequest from Bucklin allowed the Boy Scouts to purchase the large parcel of land which formed the basis of the famous Camp Yawgoog, founded in 1916, which still hosts thousands of Boy Scouts to this day and is one of the most famous camping and Scouting locations in the nation. The camp honors Buckin with the Bucklin Memorial Building, as well as the Bucklin Marksmanship Medal, for excellence in rifle shooting, and the Bucklin Rifle Award (including a rifle and case) for the top marksman of the summer session of Camp Yawgoog.
Following here is a biography of Capt. Bucklin by David S. Anderson, Scout Executive, in The Yawgoog Story, Volume III, which you can google to find online (eBay does not allow embedded links). The illustrations above also come from the book that is part of the auction lot and also describe Capt. Bucklin’s war service.
”Captain George Bucklin was born in Brooklyn, NY, February 26, 1843. His father, Thomas P. Bucklin, was a New York merchant. His business was a tea importer, under the firm name of Bucklin & Crane. The firm owned a large number of vessels, some of them the finest clippers that sailed from the port of New York, which included the ships Comet, Intrepid, Black Hawk, and Celestial. Some years before the war he retired from business and took up his residence with his family in East Providence, RI. Captain Bucklin, his son, attended the Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn as a student. He first entered the service of the United States as a private in Company D, Tenth Rhode Island Infantry, May 26, 1862, at the second three months’ call for troops to defend Washington. His company was stationed at Fort De Russey, in the defenses of Washington.
”Mustered out with his regiment Sept. 1, 1862. He reentered the service as a second lieutenant of Company F, Twelfth Rhode Island Infantry, Oct. 9, 1862; transferred to Company A, March 7, 1863; and transferred to Company H, June 2, 1863. He participated with his regiment in the battle of Fredericksburg. The regiment was in the second general advance on the enemy’s works and suffered severely. Colonel Browne in his official report to General Nagle, spoke in high commendation of the good conduct of his men, and among others he named Lieutenant Bucklin as meriting special mention, and recommended him for promotion, which he afterwards received, being commissioned first lieutenant and transferred to Company C, June 15, 1863. The regiment afterwards went with General Burnside, and served with him in the Kentucky campaign. The regiment was mustered out of service July 29, 1863.
”Upon his return to Rhode Island, Lieutenant Bucklin was commissioned captain in the First Brigade, Rhode Island Militia, Sept. 1, 1863, but resigned about September 21st, to accept a captaincy in the Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored). Passed examination as captain at Washington, DC, before General Casey’s Board, and was appointed captain by the President of the United States, in same regiment, and assigned to Company C. He was re-mustered to date November 23, 1863. He was stationed with his battalion at Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island, from January 3, 1864, until May 19, 1864.
”He was removed to Fort Jackson, LA., the Mississippi River, July 3, 1864 and then removed to Brashear City, LA, in May, 1865. Company was detached and placed in command at Fort Buchanan, Bayou Teche, where it was flooded out and returned to Brashear City. Captain Bucklin resigned his commission at the close of the war (Aug. 24, 1865), and returned North. He subsequently bought a cotton plantation in Alachua County, Florida, and resided there for five years…he later became interested in real estate.
”He was a member of the Colorado Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Bucklin Post, No. 20, Grand Army of the Republic, of East Providence, R. I., Providence Chess Club, President of the San Antonio Chess Club of San Antonio, Texas. Also a member of the San Antonio Club of the same place, and the Metropolitan Club of Denver, Colorado.
”Captain Bucklin died in Long Beach, CA, in 1918. He was buried in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, RI (reference number Buck2591) and then later moved to the Newman Cemetery, East Providence, RI. Captain Bucklin was placed in RI Hall of Fame in 1981. Bucklin is honored by having his name on the large administrative hub building for the Yawgoog Scout Reservation. The original Bucklin Memorial Building was the location of the Three Point Dining Hall. A new building was later erected at its current location on the Donald North Court and this continues to serve as the administration building for the reservation.”
Condition: Both CDV’s are in very good to excellent condition, with clear contrasts and good details, and only minor signs of age and wear; the book is in excellent condition.
TERMS: Postage is FREE. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.
TRIPLE GUARANTEE! I protect you through three guarantees. (For each of these guarantees, the item must remain in the same condition as when first sent to you. Please contact me BEFORE returning an item!) Please review my eBay feedback: I make customer satisfaction a priority (see my feedback).
1) Guarantee of SATISFACTION: If you are unhappy with the item, return it within 14 days of receipt for a refund, minus shipping costs.
2) Guarantee of ACCURACY: If the item is not as described, return it in 14 days for a refund.
3) Guarantee of AUTHENTICITY: If the item is ever shown to be inauthentic or falsified in any way (assuming that it was not explicitly identified in the auction as a reproduction, etc.), you may return it for a full refund.
Please click on the link on this page for more quality items that I am offering on eBay. Thanks!
Description: This rare lot includes TWO carte-de-visite (4x2.5 inches) portraits of Captain George Bucklin (1843-1918), in his uniform when serving with the 14th Regiment of the Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored). In both portraits, taken in the same Providence, RI studio of the Manchester Brothers, Bucklin poses in his dress officer’...s uniform, with his sword at his side. Several great details are visible in the the portraits, including the double bars on his shoulder straps, designating the rank of captain, and (in one portrait) his officer’s kepi-style cap is on the table, with a captain’s piping sewn on, as well as a crossed cannons and the numeral “14” for the 14th Regiment. Superb!
The lot includes a BOOK, by William H. Chenery, detailing the HISTORY of the 14th RI Heavy Artillery, whose officers were white and enlisted men black, as was the practice in the Civil War for regiments of African American troops. This hardbound book is a reprint, published by the Negro University Press in 1969, and it includes a history of the regiment as well as portraits and accounts of the officers of the regiment, including Capt. Bucklin (one being a reproduction of one of the photos included in this auction. Capt. Bucklin was named to the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 1981.
Capt. Bucklin went into real estate after the war, buying land in Rhode Island. Bucklin became interested in Scouting when an unnamed Scout helped him across a Providence street and then refused a tip. A bequest from Bucklin allowed the Boy Scouts to purchase the large parcel of land which formed the basis of the famous Camp Yawgoog, founded in 1916, which still hosts thousands of Boy Scouts to this day and is one of the most famous camping and Scouting locations in the nation. The camp honors Buckin with the Bucklin Memorial Building, as well as the Bucklin Marksmanship Medal, for excellence in rifle shooting, and the Bucklin Rifle Award (including a rifle and case) for the top marksman of the summer session of Camp Yawgoog.
Following here is a biography of Capt. Bucklin by David S. Anderson, Scout Executive, in The Yawgoog Story, Volume III, which you can google to find online (eBay does not allow embedded links). The illustrations above also come from the book that is part of the auction lot and also describe Capt. Bucklin’s war service.
”Captain George Bucklin was born in Brooklyn, NY, February 26, 1843. His father, Thomas P. Bucklin, was a New York merchant. His business was a tea importer, under the firm name of Bucklin & Crane. The firm owned a large number of vessels, some of them the finest clippers that sailed from the port of New York, which included the ships Comet, Intrepid, Black Hawk, and Celestial. Some years before the war he retired from business and took up his residence with his family in East Providence, RI. Captain Bucklin, his son, attended the Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn as a student. He first entered the service of the United States as a private in Company D, Tenth Rhode Island Infantry, May 26, 1862, at the second three months’ call for troops to defend Washington. His company was stationed at Fort De Russey, in the defenses of Washington.
”Mustered out with his regiment Sept. 1, 1862. He reentered the service as a second lieutenant of Company F, Twelfth Rhode Island Infantry, Oct. 9, 1862; transferred to Company A, March 7, 1863; and transferred to Company H, June 2, 1863. He participated with his regiment in the battle of Fredericksburg. The regiment was in the second general advance on the enemy’s works and suffered severely. Colonel Browne in his official report to General Nagle, spoke in high commendation of the good conduct of his men, and among others he named Lieutenant Bucklin as meriting special mention, and recommended him for promotion, which he afterwards received, being commissioned first lieutenant and transferred to Company C, June 15, 1863. The regiment afterwards went with General Burnside, and served with him in the Kentucky campaign. The regiment was mustered out of service July 29, 1863.
”Upon his return to Rhode Island, Lieutenant Bucklin was commissioned captain in the First Brigade, Rhode Island Militia, Sept. 1, 1863, but resigned about September 21st, to accept a captaincy in the Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery (Colored). Passed examination as captain at Washington, DC, before General Casey’s Board, and was appointed captain by the President of the United States, in same regiment, and assigned to Company C. He was re-mustered to date November 23, 1863. He was stationed with his battalion at Fort Esperanza, Matagorda Island, from January 3, 1864, until May 19, 1864.
”He was removed to Fort Jackson, LA., the Mississippi River, July 3, 1864 and then removed to Brashear City, LA, in May, 1865. Company was detached and placed in command at Fort Buchanan, Bayou Teche, where it was flooded out and returned to Brashear City. Captain Bucklin resigned his commission at the close of the war (Aug. 24, 1865), and returned North. He subsequently bought a cotton plantation in Alachua County, Florida, and resided there for five years…he later became interested in real estate.
”He was a member of the Colorado Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Bucklin Post, No. 20, Grand Army of the Republic, of East Providence, R. I., Providence Chess Club, President of the San Antonio Chess Club of San Antonio, Texas. Also a member of the San Antonio Club of the same place, and the Metropolitan Club of Denver, Colorado.
”Captain Bucklin died in Long Beach, CA, in 1918. He was buried in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, RI (reference number Buck2591) and then later moved to the Newman Cemetery, East Providence, RI. Captain Bucklin was placed in RI Hall of Fame in 1981. Bucklin is honored by having his name on the large administrative hub building for the Yawgoog Scout Reservation. The original Bucklin Memorial Building was the location of the Three Point Dining Hall. A new building was later erected at its current location on the Donald North Court and this continues to serve as the administration building for the reservation.”
Condition: Both CDV’s are in very good to excellent condition, with clear contrasts and good details, and only minor signs of age and wear; the book is in excellent condition.
TERMS: Postage is FREE. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax.
TRIPLE GUARANTEE! I protect you through three guarantees. (For each of these guarantees, the item must remain in the same condition as when first sent to you. Please contact me BEFORE returning an item!) Please review my eBay feedback: I make customer satisfaction a priority (see my feedback).
1) Guarantee of SATISFACTION: If you are unhappy with the item, return it within 14 days of receipt for a refund, minus shipping costs.
2) Guarantee of ACCURACY: If the item is not as described, return it in 14 days for a refund.
3) Guarantee of AUTHENTICITY: If the item is ever shown to be inauthentic or falsified in any way (assuming that it was not explicitly identified in the auction as a reproduction, etc.), you may return it for a full refund.
Please click on the link on this page for more quality items that I am offering on eBay. Thanks!
