Gallager single shot breech loading carbine manufactured by Richardson & Overman of Philadelphia between 1861 and 1864. The right side of the stock is inlaid with an oval, German silver plate engraved "Presented by/M. WARNE/TO THE/SANITARY FAIR" in four lines. The carbine is complete with extensive documentation that consists of copies of National Archives service records and pension requests of Merett A. Warne. The records indicate that Merett A. Warne was a private in the 78th Ohio Volunteer Infantry who was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862 and discharged from the service as a result of his wound on June 28, 1862. Warne apparently suffered from his wound and other service connected illnesses throughout his life and was granted a disability pension. He died at age 81 on June 11, 1924. Notes included with the carbine state that it was donated by Warne to the New York Metropolitan Sanitary Fair in April 1864. Sanitary fairs allowed members of society from the elite to the poor to donate items for sale and to volunteer their time to help provide for sick and wounded soldiers. Visitors paid for tickets to attend the lavish fairs which included various forms of entertainment including parades and live productions as well as the opportunity to purchase donated items such as this rifle. The funds went to the United States Sanitary Commission, a private relief agency, created to care for sick and wounded soldiers. Based on the New York Times article from January 1, 1864, it is clear that New Yorkers considered the fair a challenge to be met and wished to demonstrate their patriotism by raising more than the other cities. The article states: "Cannot and should not the City of New York, and the wealthy region of which it is the center, do more for this great national object than Chicago, Cincinnati or Boston, or than all three together?" Another article from March 8th, 1864 requested donations for sale at the New York fair. It also noted that on March 28th a listing of the donations and their donors would be listed thus allowing donors public recognition for their charity. During the first two days of the April 1864 fair they raised over $150,000 from ticket and merchandise sales. Lincoln himself responded to requests for the Chicago Fair and even donated the original draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to the Chicago Fair despite his desire to keep it because as he wrote "if it shall contribute to the relief or comfort of the soldiers that will be better." The carbine has no visible markings, inspection marks or serial numbers and is either a commercial production carbine or an over run from a government contract.

Very good. The carbine barrel and receiver have a deep brown patina. Traces of the original casehardened finish remains on protected areas of the receiver. The surfaces of the barrel, receiver, hammer, lever, patch box and buttplate have scattered patches of surface oxidation. The receiver screw heads are battered and the trigger is a handmade replacement. The stock has a dark patina and has numerous shallow nicks and scratches. There is a hairline crack in the left side of the stock wrist that runs from the upper tang to the middle of the receiver. This is an interesting and rare presentation Gallager Carbine. The documentation provided with the carbine consists primarily of Merett Warne's post Civil War pension requests and does not provide details of the history of the carbine. Presumably Warne donated the carbine to the Sanitary Fair in gratitude for services provided by the U.S. Sanitary Commission following his wound at Shiloh. This is a truly unique Civil War Carbine!