This historic Civil War presentation cane is inscribed to General J.L. Selfridge. Born in 1824, James Levan Selfridge studied law in Allentown, Pennsylvania, worked along with his father in the transportation business, and in 1857 moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was involved in the coal business and real estate. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Selfridge mustered into the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry on 20 April as the captain of Company A. After their initial three month enlistment was up, they became Company C of the newly formed 46th Pennsylvania Infantry, and on 8 August 1861 Selfridge was appointed lieutenant colonel of the regiment. The regiment was involved in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Mountain, suffering 48% casualties at the latter. Due to these significant losses, the regiment didn't participate in the Second Battle of Bull Run, but were again involved in fighting at the Battle of Antietam. At Antietam, due to casualties and promotions in the chain of command above him, Selfridge was promoted to colonel of the 46th and commanded the regiment until the Battle of Atlanta in 1864, when he was promoted to command of the brigade, a command that he held until being honorably discharged on 16 July 1865. Upon his discharge, he was brevetted for gallant service on Sherman's South Carolina and Georgia campaign. In 1868, Selfridge was elected Chief Clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was presented this cane by the pages of the house. He was reelected to the position until about 1873, when he returned to Philadelphia and became the proprietor of the Lehigh Hydraulic Cement Company. James Selfridge died in 1887. The gilt knob grip of the cane shows relief floral motifs and is inscribed on top "PRESENTED/TO/Gen'l J.L. Selfridge/BY/Pages H.R./1868. The shaft appears to be of smooth fruit wood and was formerly tipped with a ferrule that is now absent. It measures 35 inches overall.

Very good overall, the grip retaining most of the gilt finish with a few scattered light flakes and handling marks. The shaft is also very good with a hairline crack, some scattered light handling marks, and the ferrule absent.