Product Details
FORMERLY OWNED BY LIEUT. ACTON, 77TH FOOT
A CASED .36 COLT 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, serial no. 31151, FOR RESTORATION,
for 1855, with 7 1/2in. octagonal barrel signed on the top-flat 'ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON', plain cylinder with roll engraved scene, open iron frame marked 'COLTS PATENT', iron grip-straps and trigger guard, walnut one-piece grip, all legible visible numbers matching, action seized and extensive fresh rust and mildew, in an English marked oak case with brass bow-tie escutcheon to lid engraved 'LIEUT. W. ACTON, 77TH', the interior with parchment Colt instruction label, original mould and flask, period cap-tin, oil-bottle spare mainspring and case key, the whole case in fragile condition and separating along the seams and joins and with bad mildew internally
Provenance: An officer's greatcoat worn by Lieutenant (later Colonel) William Molesworth Cole Acton (1828-1904) is exhibited in The National Army Museum, Chelsea, London.
According to their archives, the feat performed by Acton at Inkerman was one of the most remarkable of the battle and was given due prominence by the historian Kinglake, who wrote:
"Sent by General Pennefather with an augmented company of the 77th to reinforce the 'Barrier' across the Sevastopol post-road, when the battle was nearing its close, Acton was then ordered to clear a Russian battery from Shell Hill. Acton took his own company and was told he could use two others that were to be found up ahead. Unfortunately, when he reached the companies in front, both the officers thus called upon to act refused in plain terms to do so, saying that they (the three companies) were not strong enough. Then Acton said, 'If you won't join me, I'll obey my orders and attack with the 77th'; and so saying, he ordered his men to advance; but not a man of them moved, for they were checked, as was not unnatural, by finding that their Captain was seeking to act in defiance of the opinion given by the two other officers. Acton said, 'Then I'll go by myself,' and moved forward accordingly; but he soon found himself quite alone, at a distance of some thirty or forty yards in front of his men. Presently, however, James Tyrrell, a Private of the 77th, ran out of the ranks and placed himself by the side of his Captain, saying, 'Sir, I'll stand by you.' Then a soldier sprang out from the company which was on the right of the 77th men. The officer and the two soldiers moved forward towards the battery, and they compassed a few yards without being followed; but then suddenly, to Acton's infinite joy, the whole of his 77th men rushed forward after their Captain.
Nor could the other two companies now remain behind, and they also followed Acton in an attack which proved completely successful"
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Estimate £500-800