Original U.S. Civil War Unmodified M-1863 Artillery Horse Bit by Alexander Barclay, Newark NJ - U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade Beretta Congress authorized the President to

Congress authorized the President to appoint Regular Army officers to temporary higher grades in the Army of the United States during time of war or national emergency

Although not a terribly high value item one can only imagine the delight and surprise some farmer had in this recent discovery

so it may have been reduced in length at some point

however it has definitely been repainted OD green at some point

It is all bronze

Original U.S. Civil War Unmodified M-1863 Artillery Horse Bit by Alexander Barclay, Newark NJ - U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade Beretta Congress authorized the President toOriginal Item: Only One Available. During the American Civil War (1861 1865) it is estimated that between 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 equines died, including horses, mules, donkeys and even confiscated childrens ponies. It is also estimated that the horse casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg alone, July 1 and July 3, 1863, exceeded 3,000. Diaries and letters of soldiers often mentioned the stench of dead steeds rising up from the fields of battle, and