Henry W. Wheeler was 24 years of age when he enlisted and was mustered in on May 28, 1861 as Private Co. I 2nd Maine. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry at 1st Bull Run when, after a number of his comrades had been cut down and lay exposed on the battlefield, Wheeler volunteered to accompany Col. Jameson in removing the fallen 2nd Mainers from a field still under the heavy fire of Confederate artillery and musketry. Wounded at 2nd, Bull Run Henry Wheeler mustered out with his regiment on June 9, 1863. The consummate soldier, Henry traveled to Port Hudson, Louisiana where he re-enlisted and was commissioned as 1st. Lt. Co F 81st U. S. Colored Troops. Henry Wheeler died in 1904. He was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery where his grave stone recognizes promotion to Brevet Captain 81st USCT.
Hand carved laurel root pipe with the American eagle, laurel leaves and “J. S. SMALL Co. F, 2nd Me., FREDRICK” (Likely Frederick Maryland where the 2nd was camped for a time.) Quality carving with a tin insert to prevent burn out and a silver insert (probably from a flattened spoon) at the stem. This Carmel, Maine trooper enlisted and was mustered in as Cpl. Co. F 2nd Maine. He mustered out with the 2nd on June 4, 1863 then re-enlisted October 3, 1864 as a Private of Co. F 1st Maine Heavy Artillery.
Inscribed pocket flask of Franklin, Maine resident Edward D. suffered at 2nd Bull Run. West had enlisted and mustered in on December 12, 1861 as a Private of Co I, 2nd Maine Infantry. While he gave his age as 18 for legal enlistment, in 1860 the U. S. Census recorded his age as 14, an all too common occurrence as young boys yearned for the excitement and gallantry of military service. Pvt. West was mortally wounded on August 30, 1862 at 2nd Bull Run and died on October 30, 1862.
