Brass hand engraved soap dish from a Clearwater, Florida estate. Hand written note inside identifies it to have been used by Joseph Lewis Gaul. I sometimes take handwritten notes identifying an item to a civil War soldier with a grain of salt. After researching the Gaul family history I found that Lt. Gaul had a son who moved to Florida and died in Lakeland, Florida in 1960. I feel that the note and ID are in fact correct. Research indicates that Joseph L. Gaul served in company C of the 5th Ohio infantry during the civil war. Gaul enlisted in the 5th Ohio on April 20, 1861 as a private and rising to the rank of 1st. Lieutenant by the end of the war. Looking in find a grave I found that his grave marker list him as a Major. Apparently that was an honorary rank bestowed upon him out of respect by his friends. The 5th Ohio had a distinguished war history serving in some of the major actions including Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Antietam and Chancellorsville battles in which they suffered heavy causalities . At Gettysburg they had 2 killed and 4 wounded. My research is included.

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