Conestoga Auctions, a division of Hess Auction Group in Manheim, Pa., will hold a two-day auction of the Civil War collection on behalf of the late Edgar (Ed) J. Ewing Jr. (1943-2021). The sale will take place live and online on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7 and 8. Day one will start at 10 a.m. and day two at 9 a.m. A preview will take place on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. The auction facility is located at 768 Graystone Road in Manheim. Following retirement from a teaching career in 2000, Ewing began attending militaria auctions, amassing a sizable and eclectic collection of contract muskets, pistols, edged weaponry, books, ephemera, and battlefield relics pertaining to the American Civil War. He visited numerous historical sites and loved researching material and learning about provenance of items he collected. Although several of his ancestors served in the Union Army, the Confederacy was of special interest to Ewing. A native of Allegheny County, Pa., Ewing lived north of Pittsburgh during childhood. He spent his high school junior and senior years at Fishburne Military School, in Waynesboro, Va., and began to develop a keen interest in history, with a preference for the study of the Civil War. Following graduation in 1961, he went to Bloomsburg State College (now Bloomsburg University), majoring in secondary education with a concentration in history and social science. For 33 years, Ewing taught a wide range of subjects, including American History, European History, Sociology, History of Germany, and Civil War History in the Oley Valley School District. At Oley Valley he met his future wife, Joanne, who was a high school English teacher and department chair. Throughout his teaching career, he was known for his booming voice, vast historical knowledge, talent as a lecturer, larger-than-life personality and his humorous and interesting anecdotes. Ewing died of complications associated with Parkinsons disease in 2021 and is remembered as a lifelong student of history, an avid reader, an enthusiastic Pittsburgh Steelers fan, devoted husband to Joanne, and a loving dad to his golden retrievers and Irish wolfhound. His greatest legacy is the many students who learned valuable lessons in history and in life in his classroom. Several of his students have gone on to become history teachers as a direct result of his influence, guidance, and mentorship. Day one of the auction will focus on CDVs, tintypes, and other images, ephemera such as personal letters from soldiers and official documents, many groupings and sets of cast lead miniature soldiers (many from other conflicts), found battlefield relics, Confederate currency, ribbons, badges and reference books. Included is a housewife and snuff box identified as belonging to Charles W. Roberts, a Captain of Company A 124th Regiment. Roberts enlisted from Chester County on 8/12/1862 and mustered out 5/17/1863. The 124th was a nine-month regiment which saw combat at Antietam and Chancellorsville. His photo can be found on Find a Grave. The housewife roll-up bears a tag that states needlebook carried during the war of 1862 & 63 Capt. Charles W. Roberts. The snuff box is engraved with his name, has a hinged top and is nickel-plated construction. Both are in fair to good condition. Another interesting lot is a book printed in 1862 in Richmond, Va., by West & Johnston, the Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States. The inside cover is signed and dated. There is heavy finish wear and loss to the covers and heavy foxing to the pages, excessive color toning and signs of age, overall fair to poor condition. Day two will focus on the contract muskets, pistols, swords and bayonets, found battlefield relics, currency, and accoutrements. Included is a standard issue Union Cavalry wool shell jacket with yellow piping on the cuffs and collar. It contains all 12 general eagle service buttons with two at each cuff, intact lining with areas of staining, and a complete set of shoulder scales, overall in good condition. There are also identified items belonging to Ansel Ward, who served in both the 3rd Massachusetts infantry and the 4th Massachusetts cavalry. They were purchased together from a relative of Ansel Ward and include a woven cavalry hat cord with two copper bullions, a 3rd Massachusetts Volunteer Militia Kepi from Rent & Bush of Boston with militia hat badge, an 1832 regulation pattern officers saber belt, a purple officers sash, discharge certificate, and a book Tract for Soldiers. The kepi remains in good shape with areas of moth damage, the regulation belt has separated hangers with flaking and crazing, the buckle has a worn, aged finish, and the purple sash has excessive color fading. For further information, call 717-898-7284 or visit www.hessauctiongroup.com.