Collections items are not for sale. A photo reproduction can be purchased.
| Titles |
Confederate arsenal key |
|---|---|
| Description |
This brass key was used for the Confederate Arsenal at Milledgeville, Georgia during the Civil War. William Bircher, a musician with the 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment, Company K, recovered the key and brought it back with him to Minnesota. |
| Quantity |
1 item |
| Format |
Content Category: artifacts |
| Measurements |
5 3/4 inches length (end to end) 1 1/8 inches height (bow) 2 inches width (bow) 1/2 inch diameter (barrel) 7/8 inch length (head) 1 1/8 inches width (head) 3/8 inch depth (head) |
| Nomenclature |
key (hardware) |
| Materials |
brass (alloy) |
| Subjects |
Used by: Confederate States of America, Army Found by: Bircher, William United States, Army, Minnesota Infantry Regiment, 2nd (1861-1865), Company K Used in: Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, United States Source: Confederate States of America Arsenal Used in: Civil War, 1861-1865 Crime and punishment Confederate States of America. Government & Politics. Government Agencies. Law Enforcement Household. Hardware Military. 1861-1865 (Civil & Indian Wars). Equipment & Supplies |
| Dates |
Use: Not earlier than 1861 - Not later than 1865 (Civil War) Use: Not earlier than 11/15/1864 - Not later than 12/10/1864 Dates of Sherman's March to the Sea, during which the 2nd Minnesota Regiment would have passed through Milledgeville, Georgia, following a scorched earth policy. |
| Notes |
In 1864 the 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XIV Corps as part of the Army of Georgia. Among other service in Georgia that year, the Regiment participated in the Siege of Atlanta, August 20-25, 1864, followed by the Battle of Jonesboro, August 31-September 1, and Sherman's March to the Sea, November 15-December 10, 1864. William Bircher likely took possession of the arsenal key during Sherman's March as the regiment moved southeast from Jonesboro toward Waynesboro, en route to the Siege of Savannah. |
| Holding Type | 3D Objects |
| Identifiers |
3603.H481 (Accession Number) |
I work on the grounds where this historic arsenal was located. Please return this key back to where it belongs as to add to our cities historical past for people to see apart of their historical past!!!!
Could we discuss getting this important part of OUR towns history returned? It may not mean much to your museum, but it would mean a LOT to ours. This year marks the 155th anniversary of Sherman's occupation of Milledgeville. It would be a fantastic gesture on your states behalf to return this War Trophy to it's home city.
Thank you for the above comments. MNHS staff have responded directly to each commenter via email. For more information about specific policies, procedures, or object provenance please email collections@mnhs.org
We would like our key returned please
MNHS Collections are held in public trust. Curatorial staff have decided not to consider deaccession for this object based on the stated criteria for deaccession in the MNHS Collections Management Policy: "An item or collection deaccessioned by MNHS must meet at least one of the following criteria: It is no longer relevant and useful to the mission of MNHS. It no longer retains its physical or digital integrity, identity, or authenticity. It is unnecessarily duplicated in the collections." Curators reviewed accession information for this object and surveyed related material including other items associated with the donor, William Bircher, the 2nd Minnesota Regiment, and other Confederate objects in the museum's Civil War holdings. This review proved that the arsenal key adds value and relevance to MNHS collections by allowing the museum to more fully interpret the 2nd Minnesota's involvement in Shermanâs March, it is in fine condition, and is unique in our holdings.