[CIVIL WAR]. Folk art carved pipe identified to Orren Clark Richards, 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery. 

Folk art carved wood pipe, medium brown in color, overall width 3 1/2 in., bowl height 3 1/2 in., with 7 in. stem fashioned from a twig (used condition, with top of rim and interior of bowl blackened, some surface loss to stem which cannot be removed from the shank). Top front of bowl features a horizontal riband with the soldier's name "Orren C. Richards" carved in relief. A large crossed cannon is carved in relief at center, with a "3" above and a five-pointed star below, with "Mass" carved near bottom front of bowl. The crossed cannon are surrounded by floral and shamrock motifs. 

Orren Clark Richards (1842-1884) was a painter who studied under George Inness of the Hudson River School, at Medford, MA, prior to the Civil War. At the age of 21, he enlisted as a corporal with the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery, mustering in on 9/5/1861. He was discharged for disability on 2/25/1863 at Fort Monroe, VA. During his time with the 3rd Massachusetts Light Artillery, the battery participated in a number of important battles incl. the Siege at Yorktown, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Following Clark's discharge, the battery went on to fight with distinction at Gettysburg. 


The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann