This rifle musket is dated 1860 on the lock and has the Model 1855 Rifle style blade front sight, standard musket rear sight, and slightly shorter than standard barrel with the usual government proof and inspection marks. The stock has "C. N. TOTTINGHAM" marked on both sides of the trigger guard. Based on the included research (some dates conflict), Charles N. Tottingham (1829-1889) of Keene, New Hampshire, was a musician in the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry in 1861 and 1862 and then re-enlisted and served as a 1st Class Musician in the 2nd Brigade Band, 10th Army Corps, and was discharged on November 17, 1863, due to disability. A copy of a photograph of Tottingham shows him holding a rifle-musket is included. Given that he was a musician, it is likely he was disabled due to disease rather than combat. However, sometimes musicians chose to play from forward positions while battles raged around them. Bands and music in general were very important during the Civil War and were used to maintain morale and a sense of shared identity among the war weary soldiers. When closely encamped or positioned in trenches, the bands of the opposing armies had musical duels and in rare instances actually played songs like "Home! Sweet Home!" in unison alluding to their shared longing for home and shared heritage.

Fair. The rifle has a gray patina and extensive moderate pitting overall, mostly concentrated at the breech. The revarnished, lightly sanded stock is fair and has minor dings and scratches and a few minor chips. Some of the barrel markings and the stock cartouches are illegible, but the lock markings are clear. The lock functions fine.