The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-03
KNIVES AND Pixies.
Sneeimens In the Glib Relic Room.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have been
q constant reader of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
for three years, and have thought several times
of telling the comrades about the knives and
pixies we have in our relic room, to show that
they were carried, if not used, by the Confed-
crate soldier during the late war. There has
been great deal said about them, but l have
not, to my recollection, seen any description of
either the knife or pike. / do not claim to have
seen them in the hands of the COnfederates or
used in any engagements but there are num-
bers of both here in the relic room, and | will
give brief description of few.
The largest of the collection is one sent to
Gov. Tod, then Governor of Ohio, by the late
Gen. James A. Garfield, with the following
letter:
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH BRIGADE,
CAMP BUELL. June 80, 1862.
His Excellency. Gov. TOD.
DEAR SIR: Please accept Big Sandy knife,
fit symbol of the rebellion. 1t will be handed you
by Maj Pardee of the AID Ohio, the bearer of this
letter.
Colonel, Commanding Brigade,
The knife and handle measure % inches,
and is of the Bowie" pattern handle made
of bone, five inches long, with single guard for
the hand blade Is inches, and tapers to q
point ID inches of the blade being three inches
wide, and weighs three pounds two ounces
without scabbard The scabbard is made OF
Five knives picked up at Fort Donelson
One 1871 inches in length, with hand guard con-
tinuing across the blade five inches at right
angle The blades are II inches long, two
inches wide, of the Bowie pattern. OF two more
one is 10 inches, one Is inches, one and one-hali
inch wide; one is inches long, two and one
half inches wide, picked up at Pittsburg Land
ing; one from Lexington, KY, 16 inches long
with hand-guaTd, two and One-tourth inch
blade, handle inlaid with lead. All are Of
"home manufacture and are very rude
affairs.
There are two different kinds of pixies; the
largest from Fort Pillow, made to rivet TO stat
by pieces running down each side Ii inches
and held by these rivets. Length over all It
inches Blade 10 inches, shank three inche;
between blade and end of staff. At shank il
| is crossed with hook on one side four inches
! long, curved down. Opposite side, Ratchet
shape, two inches long and two inches wide al
| edge. One of spear-shape, 144 inches long, will
| hook at right angle four inches long, curved
down This is made to fit In socket in staff five
inches and riveted. The blade is eight inches
with shank one and one-half inch. This pike
is from lot burned at Raleigh, N. c., upon th'
approach of Gen. Fitzpatrick.
Think this description of few of the knives
and pixies will help to settle the doubt in thu
minds of some of their use in the late war.
l will at an early date, give a description o
our flag and relic room, with war relics flags
etc, for the benefit of those who have neve
had an opportunity to visit it. l will try anC
make it interesting for your young reader
especially.
To convince you that we have an interestin!
collection let me state that during the GAR
Encampment Sept. 10 to 10, there wer
60,600 visitors passed through the room
During the year, 10000 visitors.-SLAs CROW
ELL, Superintendent of Flag and Relic Room
| Columbus, o.