How a Musician won a Medal of Honor

[Henry4440]

The 86th Illinois Infantry Regiment Lieutenant Colonel, Allen L. Fahnestock,owned a Henry Rifle(sn1348).
At Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., 27 June 1864, 36 year-old Principal Musician Alason P. Webber, whose usual position was behind the lines, asked to borrow the Henry Rifle and go into combat that day.When the 86th was pinned down in front of the Dead Angle,Webber advanced with Fahnestock's Henry Rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition.He made it to a tree, "within twenty-seven feet of the rebel line of battle," where he sniped at the enemy for hours to allow his comrades a chance to carry off their wounded.Webber won a Medal of Honor for his actions and was able to withdraw with the Henry Rifle to safety.Allen L. Fahnestocks Henry Rifle was sold at auction in 1996.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Allen L. Fahnestocks Henry Rifle was sold at auction in 1996.

For how much?

[Henry4440]

For how much?

Sorry, didn't know.
Here is a pic of Alason P. Webber


and of Allan L. Fahnestock

[Panhandle Slim]

The 86th Illinois Infantry Regiment Lieutenant Colonel, Allen L. Fahnestock,owned a Henry Rifle(sn1348).
At Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., 27 June 1864, 36 year-old Principal Musician Alason P. Webber, whose usual position was behind the lines, asked to borrow the Henry Rifle and go into combat that day.When the 86th was pinned down in front of the Dead Angle,Webber advanced with Fahnestock's Henry Rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition.He made it to a tree, "within twenty-seven feet of the rebel line of battle," where he sniped at the enemy for hours to allow his comrades a chance to carry off their wounded.Webber won a Medal of Honor for his actions and was able to withdraw with the Henry Rifle to safety.Allen L. Fahnestocks Henry Rifle was sold at auction in 1996.

There's a section in the visitors center of the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield site that talks about Mr. Webber.  I distinctly remember the plaque stating that "his shots hit everything he aimed at".   They also have a Henry on display in there.  I don't know it's provenance, but I wonder if that could be the aforementioned Henry (I was there in 2003).  That would be cool if it was.  If you ever get a chance to get down to Kennesaw, you can't miss the mountain.  It's the tallest thing for miles. They have a nice visitors center, and you can walk the trail all the way up to the summit.  Or you can take the bus.  It took me about 45 minutes to walk up, and about the same to walk back down.  At the top, you can see the old cannon emplacements.  Apparently, one of the Confederate cannon crews decided to take a pot shot at the Union troops in the town, and managed to blow up a water tower.  When you see the distance from the top, you realize what a fantastic shot that was.  You can also see downtown Atlanta, and on a clear day all the way to Stone Mountain.  Another great site to visit is the railroad museum in Big Shanty (Kennesaw).  There you'll see the General. The very same locomotive that was stolen during the Great Locomotive Chase.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I actually handled the Fahenstock Henry and that original tintype, and his discharge papers!  It was about 1994 or 1995, an antique dealer friend of mine in Jamestown, CA said he had an old lever gun, and a guy wanted $9,000.  He thought it was high.  I went to his shop and it was the Fahjenstock Henry (not famous then, because Sword hadn't written the book yet) I told him to sell his kids, it was a steal.  Before he could come up with the money, the guy said he sold it for $18,000 to $20,000.  I think that buyer is the one that auctioned it in 96.