Here's some info my uncle gave me:
The Dunningtons had a summer place called Cherry Hill
in Dumfries, Virgina, that burned down just after the Civil War.
Charlie and his younger brother Billy were camped out next
to the road, while they salvage what they could. Melted family
silver and his 44 cal. Colt revolver which had the wooden grips
burned off. A friend of mine made new grips for it as a
favor to me. He passed away a few years ago.
The gun has a flutted cylinder, which is rare. He said
the gun is very valuable. All the serial #'s match. The end
of the barrel is worn from rubbing against his saddle leather.
The letters C A D are engraved on the trigger guard.
Here's a family ghost story : That night Charlie and Billy
were camped out next to the road and they were sitting
out in front of their tent with their dog. It was a bright
moonlit night, when they heard a horse approaching at a
gallop, passing right in front of them, then going away.
They saw nothing and the dog put his tail between his
legs and ran into the tent, whimpering.
I also have the very worn pass that Charlie was given
at the prisoner exchange. He must have carried it in his
pocket for a long time.
He had to swear he would never bear arms against
the United States ever again, under threat of execution.
That is when he left Stuarts Cavalry for Moseby's
Outfit. Luckily there was complete amnesty from Grant
at Appomattox, for all of Lee's army. He was allowed to
keep his pistol, uniform and horse. |
