Civil War Soldier’s Personal Tin Stencil – Gettysburg Veteran, 1st Indiana Cav.

Outstanding Identified Civil War Soldier’s Personal Tin Stencil – Gettysburg Veteran, 1st Indiana Cavalry (Bracken Rangers)
 
This is a rare, fully identified Civil War soldier’s personal stencil belonging to John W. Harlin (also spelled Harlan) of Company K, 1st Indiana Cavalry, accompanied by supporting postwar tax receipts in his name. A genuine battlefield-used artifact from one of the war’s most famous engagements.
 
The crisp tin stencil is boldly marked “Jno H. Harlin” — the exact form a soldier would have used to mark his knapsack, blanket, clothing, canteen, or other gear during the chaos of camp life and long marches. These stencils were essential tools for preventing theft and mix-ups in an army where thousands of men carried nearly identical equipment. Harlin’s example survives in excellent condition with sharp, deeply stamped lettering that remains highly legible.
 
Unit & Battle History Company K, 1st Indiana Cavalry — originally raised as an independent company known as the Bracken Rangers from Marion County, Indiana — served in the Eastern Theater. Elements of the regiment, including Companies I and K, were detached as escorts for the 11th Corps during the Gettysburg Campaign. This placed Harlin directly in one of the Civil War’s most pivotal and bloodiest battles. He was wounded at Gettysburg and later served in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana.
 
Provenance & Postwar Life After the war, Harlin settled in Missouri, operating a successful tinning business in Independence and Liberty. He remained active in civic life, serving on the Liberty city council. A moving 1929 obituary confirms every detail:
“John Harlin, 89, the last Civil War veteran in Clay County who fought at Gettysburg… He was a member of the Union army and fought hand to hand with Confederate forces… Often in the years of peace that followed the three told how hard they had tried to kill one another.”
 
The obituary notes his birth in Indianapolis on August 12, 1840, his enlistment in the 1st Indiana Cavalry, and his distinguished service. He passed away in Liberty, Missouri, on September 27, 1929, and is buried in Mount Memorial Cemetery.
This grouping includes the original stencil plus multiple postwar tax receipts made out to John Harlin, providing clear, documented lineage directly to this Gettysburg veteran.
 
A museum-quality piece with ironclad identification — perfect for advanced Civil War collections, Indiana or Missouri regimental displays, or Gettysburg-focused exhibits. Few identified stencils from Gettysburg soldiers ever reach the market. This is a standout artifact with a powerful personal story.