1862 GRATIOT PRISON CIVIL WAR CARVED SOAPSTONE PIPE

Measuring 1.5 X 2.25 inches and carved with dates, names and initials including "McDowell's College" which was the name of a St. Louis school which was taken over by the federals in 1861 and thereby became Gratiot Prison even though it was located in a wealthy neighborhood. Many of the offenders held there were Missouri and Arkansas soldiers, often captured further south and sent there for processing. "McDowell's College" which is carved on the underside of the pipe is where prisioners were processed before being sent on, usually to the prison at Alton on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. The word "Alton" is carved across the top of the pipe stem with a date of "Feb. 10th". "Feb. 1st" is carved on one side of the stem and "1862" is carved on the other. The initials HJB are carved on one side of the bowl, LB is carved on the other side of the bowl. An American flag is carved on the end of the bowl. Soapstone carvings, especially pipes, were not uncommon among Civil War soldiers and this example must document one soldiers experience during the war.