I'm a Civil War relic hunter. Recently, while hunting near Sister's Ferry, GA on the Savannah River I found a baggage tag. It's made of pewter and about 1 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. It has a slot at the top. On one side is the number 245 (in the middle) with C. R. R. across the top. Below the number is a small star. On the reverse the name G. A. BOLIFEUILLET. Below the name is the word CONDUCTOR. I believe the railroad is the Central which ran from Savannah to Millen, GA during the Civil War. It connected in Millen with the Augusta and Savannah RR which ran to Augusta and the Georgia RR which ran to Macon. Central's tracks were about 25 miles from where I found the baggage tag. Apparently one of Sherman's boys either during the March to the Sea or during his movement to the location where I found the tag (at a crossing of the Savannah River used by Uncle Billy to enter South Carolina) "procured" the tag and later discarded it.

Do you know whether it was common for a RR employee's name to be on a baggage tag? Was it the conductor's personal tag or just the name of the employee who was responsible for the bag? Also were pewter tags common? I thought most were brass. Any information on the conductor would also be appreciated.

Thanks Mike

-- Mike Gill (m-l@toast.net), October 29, 2001

Answers

Baggage tags, while usually made of brass, were also made of other metals. I have one in my collection made of what appears to be aluminum (although it is a much later tag than the tag you have>)

It was not standard practice to put the conductor's name on the tag. I have not seen this done before.

I have no information on the conductor.

The Central Railroad of Georgia was completed beyond Millen to Macon in 1843, long before the War Between the States. There its connections, during the war, were the Macon & Western and the Southwestern RR of Georgia.

Hope this information is helpful.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), October 29, 2001.