Flagstaff Finials Toppers &
Ferrules of the American Civil War
by Del Thomasson
Third [3rd] Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery/152nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers
Posted 10/10//2022
This regiment was activated on February 17, 1863 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, however, Hiram F. Stover did not enroll in the regiment until February 11, 1864.
Hiram was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania in 1847, and lived most of his young life in Franklin Township, Pennsylvania. Hiram was a 5’2” brown eyed 18 year old with black hair and a fair complexion when he enrolled in the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. As a Private going in the war, and a Private coming out on November 9, 1865, Hiram was a shoemaker at home. Hiram was assigned Company C of the Pennsylvania artillery regiment.
After the war, Hiram moved to Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas where he died on December 2, 1923,where he is now buried. In 1874, Hiram, according to war pension records, became an invalid. Hiram’s widow applied for, and received a pension due to Hiram’s death on December 22, 1923.
The 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery consisted of 12 companies that all met at Fort Monroe, Virginia where Headquarters for the regiment was set up and remained until the end of the war. At various times during the tenure at Fort Monroe, various companies were sent to various locations such as Baltimore, Suffolk, Gettysburg, Petersburg, North Carolina, and naval brigades working the rivers near Richmond and Petersburg, all eventually to return to Fort Monroe after their performed duties. At some point during the war, the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy artillery had too many men assigned, and several were joined to the 188th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Hiram Stover’s name remained on the rooster of the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. Company C, Stover’s Company, remained in Fort Monroe during the entire war, what was left of it until November 1865.
In 2022, the author obtained an image of Hiram F. Stover in tintype form that has beautiful handwriting on the back of a piece of wood holding the picture in place in a frame. Stover is seen holding a drum; however, no information could be found placing Stover as a drummer. The author believes Stover worked making and repairing boots and shoes for his regiment, and was possibly a drummer as well. In the estate items purchased is the spade style finial as well as a tool of some sort with the initials “HS” on the handle. This looks to be some type of leather cutter. Also found is a post war white button with the initials “HFS, Bat C, 3rd Art. PA,” and an artillery button.
The spade style finial is one of the larger pieces seen that is 5.72” from top to bottom of the threads, and 3.96” wide at the wings. All the images are from that collection.
