#bandfield

Conch (“conk”) shell purchased by Pvt. George Bandfield. He wrote about it on April 1, 1863 in his first and second diary. It may be a Queen Conch (Lobatus Gigas).

This was a copper stamp belonging to George H. Bandfield, likely during his time as Town Clerk in Hinsdale, NY. After the Battle of Mobile Bay and Battles at Fort Fisher, he was nearly deaf and suffered physical issues the rest of his days. As a result, following the Civil War, Bandfield took up public offices from then until his passing in 1923.

The various obituaries for Pvt. George H. Bandfield from local papers (d.16 Feb. 1923), and his headstone. Bandfield also describes marching at Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inauguration and Lincoln’s death in his diaries.

Display of Pvt. George H. Bandfield’s Civil War artifacts in April 1998, at St. Bonaventure University’s Friedsam Library. Standing here is Joan Hill, great-granddaughter of Bandfield and co-editor of his diaries.

BANDFIELD BY DEIRDRE BREEN

Shaving mug once belonging to George H. Bandfield. It likely post-dates his time in the Civil War. A Masonic symbol appears above the gold lettering (and also on Bandfiield’s headstone). His father was also a Mason. The mug later came to be used in the 1950s onward by a family member who worked as a barber.

Colorized version of a presumed photo of Pvt. George H. Bandfield. The original photo has not been relocated, this is from a photocopy made by one of the editors several years ago. Bandfield mentions having his photo taken at least twice in Brooklyn, NY.