An old man of 88 years when he passed his treasure on to Ruby in 1929, Gardner B. Wiley would live into his 93rd year before passing in 1934. The old veteran was a 20 year old resident of Stowe, Maine when he enlisted as a Pvt. Co. B 17th Maine Infantry. He remained with the 17th Maine as it served gallantly through some of the heaviest fighting of the war, mustering out in Washington D. C., June 4, 1865. While serving with the 17th the Regiment would see action at such as the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. Of significance with respect to Pvt. Wiley’s removal of his relic from Confederate General Ewell’s supply train are military records verifying the presence of the 17th Maine at the capture of the train at Sailor’s Creek April 6, 1865. As for the Confederate donor of our Mainer’s bloodstained war trophy, Sampson Pope was commissioned as Surgeon 22nd Georgia Infantry, C.S.A. on New Years Day 1863. He would be in place with the 22nd Georgia at Gettysburg. Rising through Confederate Staff ranks, Sampson Pope served as Senior Brigade Surgeon, Gen. Sorrels Brigade, his name appearing in the official Parole Records of the Army of Northern Virginia (Appomattox Roster), Southern Historical Society Papers.