A rare and historically significant set of Confederate naval captain’s shoulder straps, attributed to Captain William Edward Huggins of Virginia. Confederate naval insignia are among the scarcest artifacts of the Civil War, with original shoulder straps being exceptionally uncommon and seldom encountered on the market.

Captain Huggins was a native of Mathews County, Virginia, and later resided in Norfolk, Virginia, where he died. His obituary records a distinguished record of service in both the Confederate Army and Navy. He formally entered the Confederate States Navy on March 26, 1863, and in June 1864 was transferred into the Confederate States Army’s Provisional Navy.

During his naval service, Huggins served aboard the CSS Savannah from 1863 to 1864, holding the rank of captain. He also rendered service in the Virginia Revenue Service, further underscoring his maritime experience. His wartime career culminated at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, where he was wounded and captured on January 15, 1865, during the fort’s fall to Union forces.

Following the war, Huggins returned to Norfolk and continued his connection to maritime life, serving as harbor master until his death.

As a named and attributable grouping tied to a documented Confederate naval officer with confirmed service and combat history, these shoulder straps represent an extraordinary and rare survival of Confederate naval material.

Print Email to a friend

---

If you have ordered an antique weapon or artifact from our website please be advised that these guns are sold strictly as collectible antiques.

FloridaConfederate.com strongly recommends that these artifacts be enjoyed and appreciated for their historical significance and not ever fired. By ordering you are acknowledging these facts, warnings and assume full responsibility for your personal actions with regard to them.

We DO NOT sell modern guns, all our inventory will be pre 1898 and are classified by the ATF as antiques and require no government paperwork to own.