This Smith & Wesson No 2 Army Revolver, .32 Calibre, sn: 50108, Circa: 1866, is a magnificent part of our American Heritage. It is emotionally tied to a very famous lady: Harriet Beecher Stowe.

 This famous author was the wife of the abolitionist and clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher. Harriet Beecher Stowe was "chided" by President Abraham Lincoln as the "Dear lady who caused our "War of The Rebellion", by her writing of "Uncle Tom's Cabin".

 The backstrap of this historical piece of "Americana" is inscribed: " To Lt. Frederick Beecher from your proud and loving Aunt, Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1868."
 First Lt. Frederick Henry Beecher, Third Infantry, served with distinction in the Civil War, and received a severe thigh wound at Fredericksburg that kept him out of action until April 1863. In 1866 Beecher was assigned to Ft. Wallace in Kansas, and was appointed by General Sheridan as the "Chief of Sheridan's Scouts".
 It was in 1868, during the "Battle of Beecher Island" that Lt. Beecher was mortally wounded. Along with this personal arm of Frederick Beecher, is the book "Hero of Beecher Island", the military career of General George A. Forsyth, which is full of accounts of Lt. Beechers' military career, with photographs graphically recording the Battle of Beecher Island and Frederick Beecher's tragic death. The Provenance of this rare investment is from the esteemed collection of the late Paul Sorrell of Beaumont, Texas.

 The revolver has no finish, only a brown patina, markings are clear, with a tight, crisp action and good tight lockup. Backstrap engraving is sharp and clear to read.