One of the most historic pieces I've ever had.  This is the second Model 1851 Navy, which belonged to the Crocheron Light Dragoons of Dallas County, Alabama that has turned up.  The unit was later designated Holloway's Company, Third Alabama Cavalry.  This unit provided courier and escort service for the Commanding General of The Army of the Tennessee throughout the Civil War.  

I would direct your attention to an article written by Walter L. Anderson in the January 1991 Gun Report.  A brilliant piece of research, the article provides an indepth insight into the C. L. Dragoon Navy.  I will summarize, as best I can with full credit to Mr. Anderson.  In 1860, Ben McCullough, the famous Mexican War veteran, arranged with Sam Colt for the Governor of Alabama to purchase 600 1851 Navy Colts.  When the Civil War began, the governor presented each commissioned officer, in the early regiments formed in the State of Alabama, a Colt 1851 Navy.  The Crocheron Light Dragoons, formed in October 1861 in Dallas County, Alabama, included four officers, each presented a Colt Navy by the governor.  It also included over 100 enlisted men, that were provided with .44 caliber Colt Dragoons, which were shipped into Mobile and purchased by the unit's benefactor John Crocheron.  The unit named itself the Crocheron Light Dragoons, in honor of  its benefactor, who so graciously purchased the Colt Dragoons for the enlisted men.  The unit transferred from state control to Confederate government control and served as courier and escort for the commanding general of the Army of Tennessee throughout the war.  Of the four Colt Navies, which would have been issued to the officers of the Crocheron Light Dragoons, this is the second gun to turn up.  The first gun, which is the feature of Mr. Anderson's 1991 Gun Report article, was serial number 94981.  This gun is serial number 94865.  Further, this gun has two sets of initials, two capital W's carved into the grips and the initials DML scratched on the butt.  Consultation with Mr. Anderson indicates that the WW in the grip are the initials of Sgt. William Wade.  He enlisted November 16, 1861 as a corporal and mustered out of service April 18, 1865 as a sergeant.  He was from Providence, Alabama, which is in Dallas County.  The second set of initials cannot yet be identified to a member of the unit.  

The gun has matching serial numbers throughout.  It is well used but relatively tight and functional.  The Hartford address is still visible on top of the barrel as are most of the markings.  It has only traces of cylinder scene and the C. L. Dragoon engraved mark, on the left rear barrel flat, is quite legible.  Two chambers of the cylinder are still loaded and I cleaned the powder out of the three others, which had lost their bullets but still had complete powder charges.  The gun has some pitting and a few dents and dings but an overall good appearance.  A wonderful piece of history.  As two of the four issued Navies have turned up, I don't think we can hope for another any time soon.  SOLD!!