This 1st Model Henry rifle has "A C HOLMES" hand scratched on the right side of the stock. On page 80 of "The Historic Henry Rifle" by Sword, this rifle is listed by serial number with a notation listing the stock marking and indicating Holmes served in Company G. of the 10th West Virginia Infantry in 1862-1864. Sword also lists a Henry rifle with no serial number reported as "'A.C. Holmes/10th Regt. W.V. Inf. Vols.' (inscribed)" on page 83. This may be actually another reference to this same rifle. It also appears that "Sgt" is marked before the "A." Information on Alfred C. Holmes (1834-1910) is included such as his "Declaration for Invalid Pension" listing him as a resident of West Union, Doddridge County, West Virginia, and identifying him as enrolling on the 12th of March in 1862 in the above unit and stating that he was discharged at Richmond, Virginia, (the former Confederate capitol) on May 6, 1865. He listed an injury to the left breast as well as "Rheumatism and heart trouble, disease of throat, & catarrh of the head" as the reasons he was applying for 3/4 disability pension. He was promoted to corporal, sergeant, and later second lieutenant during the war. His obituary in The Clarksburg Weekly Telegram indicates he was once the sheriff of Harrison County and a member of the House of Delegates. Other records confirm he was the county recorder starting in 1866 as well as a farmer, later a county and county court clear in the 1870s and 1880s, and was representative for Doddridge County in 1905. The 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was recruited by Dr. Thomas Maley Harris. They served mainly in West Virginia from May 1862 to June of 1864 to protect the people of the state and military assets within its boundaries from the "bushwhackers" and Confederate raids and fought in a variety of battles and skirmishes including the Battle of Droop Mountain. They then fought in Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864. They then served in the Appomattox Campaign including at Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, the pursuit of Lee, and Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House before marching to Richmond where Holmes was discharged. Sword and others have stated the unit was a mounted infantry unit, but according to histories of the unit, they were purely regular, unmounted infantry though they were at times attached to mounted units. In addition to the stock marking, the frame has "BHH" on the right and "W.E.M." on the left as well as some other fainter markings such as "Alo" or "Ala" on the right side plate and an "H" below the hammer screw on the right. The rifle has a rounded nickel-silver blade front sight, "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." stamped on top of the barrel, notch and folding ladder rear sight with 900 yard top notch, second rear dovetail on the receiver, sling loop on the left side of the barrel, sling swivel on the left side of the stock, lever latch and corresponding hook at the rear of the lever, rounded heel buttplate, and matching serial numbers on the barrel, left side of the lower tang, the tang screws, the upper tang mortise of the stock, inside of the buttplate at the toe, and on the buttplate screws.

Very good. The barrel, lever, and other iron components display dark brown patina along with some mild pitting. The brass frame and furniture have attractive aged mustard patina and tight joints. There are some dings, scratches, tool marks, and other mild wear on the metal. Some of the screws are replacements. The stock is also very good and has some filler by the upper tang, some minor loss at the edges, numerous scratches and dings, and moderate overall wear. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a very attractive Civil War Henry rifle inscribed with the name of a border state officer who fought for the Union. This Henry may have been present for the surrender of Lee at Appomattox.