Union Soldier's Important Briarwood Pipe Adorned with Notable Battle Honors

This pipe belonged to Sergeant Alfred N. Brown, Battery "G," New York 1st Light Artillery and consists of a six-sided bowl carved in high relief as follows: "A N Brown" on the bowl's left panel with names of battles on the other panels, these to include: Fredericksburg, Antietam, Mellvern (sic) Hill and Fair Oaks; the curved rear of the bowl hosts a silver plate secured with brass pins and is engraved Chancellorsville / Gettysburg / Auburn Station (better known to historians as Catlett's Station), Robertson's Tavern (locally referred to as Robinson's Station). Included with the pipe is A. N. Brown's wartime 16-CDV pocket album in which are images of Washington, Lincoln, (12) union generals, Brown's artillery captain, Nelson Ames, and most importantly, Brown's mother.
Brown's artillery experience was quite short according to his record. He enlisted as a Sergeant at age 35 on December 18, 1863 at Stevensburg, VA, only to transfer to the U.S. Navy sometime after April 15, 1864 and be discharged as an invalid sometime before filing for release on November 15, 1864. This unusual resumé will require deeper research since the battles listed on his pipe all pre-date Brown's 1863 enlistment with the 1st Light Artillery. It would seem he originally enlisted sometime between late 1861 and early 1862 in order for Malvern Hill (July 1, 1862) to be carved onto his pipe.


Private North Carolina Collection
Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.lelandlittle.com

Excellent glossy surfaces with light wear; the carvings are in high relief and remain bold; the silver plate has original toned surfaces.