Description

Slide top boxed, turned wood chess set, as seen in many references documented to soldier’s personal effects. Box is light wood construction, typical of commercially manufactured sets sold in the day by merchants, sutler’s, mail order, etc. Pieces are deeply and somewhat ornately turned in dark and natural wood, one of the telltale signs of it’s vintage construction as opposed to modern sets which lack the depth. Knights have hand carved horse heads. Has a couple of period replacement pieces, commonly seen with well used and cherished sets. .Slide top is a little loose with wear as commonly seen with these vintage sets but still slides fine. The lid has a crack from age but is till completely intact. The inside of the box is inscribed in pencil “CYRUS PORTER, 1865, KANSAS”. Purchased at combined estate type sale in Platte, Missouri, north of Kansas City in the Saint Joseph area. Attributed by seller to family descendant of Cyrus Porter, described unapologetically as a “Jayhawk Yankee”. (no documents with item at purchase) Our research checked out – shows Cyrus Porter enlisted in the 11th Kansas Cavalry 11-10-1864. He was discharged 8-15-1865 near Fort Leavenworth, KS. Data on Porter and period history of 11th KS Cavalry included. The regiment was raised in 1862 in Northern Kansas and heavily engaged in all major battles and campaigns in and around the KS/MO/AR/OK region. By the time Porter had enlisted to refill the ranks to full strength, they had just finished pushing Price south and demonstrated against Stan Watie in OK. From there they were sent back up and actively engaged in wartime Indian campaigns from Fort Larned KS north, clear to Fort Laramie.