Confederate Ship Captain, C.J.Relyea Engraved Cane

Confederate Ship Captain, C.J. Relyea Engraved Cane, Plus. Lot of 2, including a cane belonging to C.J. Relyea, Confederate Ship Captain of the CSS Planter, the only captain to have his ship stolen by slaves, and a carved Mexican souvenir cane. Relyea's cane, primarily made of snakewood, is 35.875 in. long overall; with a yellow and rose-gold knob, not marked, 1.5 in. long, featuring a compass mounted in the top, the name Capt - CJ - Relyea engraved in three panels surrounding the compass, including eight panels engraved with intricate designs, one being a seahorse; with a 1 in. ferrule. This cane descended directly through the family of C.J. Relyea.

The accompanying carved, wooden cane, 36.75 in. long overall; no ferrule. Features alternating panels of intricate patterns and figural design, with an eagle and crest in top panel, and a detailed depiction in the next three panels of a toreador participating in a bullfight, by first luring in the bull and subsequently killing it with his spear.

According to HDS, C.J. Relyea enlisted as a pilot on July 21, 1862, and was commissioned into the CS Navy on the same date. He first served on the CSS Huntress, then became Captain of the Planter, a side-wheel steamer, which was as an armed dispatch boat and transport attached to the engineer department at Charleston, SC under Brig. Gen. Ripley.

While Relyea was absent on shore on May 13, 1862, Robert Smalls, an African American slave who was Planter's pilot, quietly took the steamer from the wharf, passing successive Confederate forts with a Confederate flag flying, and saluting them as usual by blowing her steam whistle. As soon as Planter was out of the range of Confederate guns, Smalls replaced the confederate flag with a white flag and turned the ship over to Onward of the Union blockading force. The ship brought not only Smalls, but also 15 other people to freedom. Smalls also delivered Union Flag Officer S.F. du Pont, valuable cargo, and intelligence about the Confederates abandoning defensive positions on the Stono. On May 30, 1862, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives granted Smalls and Planter's African American crew one half of the value of Planter and her cargo (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. V, 324-325).

On May 21, 1862, Captain Relyea was found guilty of Disobedience of Orders and Neglect of Duty, but upon closer examination, General Pemberton remitted the sentence and Relyea was released.

Smalls was hailed as a national hero as a result of this event, and he went on to become the first black captain of a U.S. vessel. He also became a major general in the South Carolina militia and served five terms as a U.S. Congressman during Reconstruction.

Some wear to gold cap on Relyea's cane.