Originally Purchased by Future Confederate General Thomas F Drayton

FROM THE DALE BEEKS COLLECTION

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This is a wonderful Railroad Compass in fantastic condition made by William Ewin Circa 1837. Railroad Compasses could measure angles independently of the needle, which was a very important development in the history of surveying in America. Please see my Railroad Compass Webpage which describes the development and importance of these neat compasses.

This rare compass comes with a documented history. Purchased originally by Thomas F Drayton in 1837. Drayton, a West Point grad, was at that time a Civil Engineer with the Charleston, Louisville & Cincinnati Railroad (C.L.&C.R.R). The railroad was never built, which likely explains why this compass is FANTASTIC condition. Check out the image below, which is a transcription of a letter from Drayton to William Ewin in the Ewin files at the University of West Virginia. As you can see from the image below that, the compass offered here is engraved "C.L.&C.R.R.Co" per Drayton's instructions.

Based on the sources I found, the C.L.&C.R.R was going to be a big deal for the South, but alas it was not to be. Drayton did have some success eventually in railroading, as he was the President of the Charleston Savannah Railroad from 1853 thru 1856.

Drayton would eventually serve as a General in the Confederate States of America (CSA) Army, so there is plenty of biographical information about Drayton on the internet. Fortunately for the Union, Thomas F Drayton wasn't much of a commander. Drayton was however good friends with his West Point classmate, Jefferson Davis. When the war came, President Davis appointed his Drayton to a high level position in the CSA - South Carolina. Drayton fought in a number of major engagements over a few years, but disappointed his superiors, including General Lee. Drayton was eventually sent to the western front where he would be less of a liability.

The owner of this instrument will be able to spend numerous hours researching Thomas F Drayton. In addition to the points highlighted above, Drayton's father was a U.S. Congressman, and Drayton himself served in the South Carolina Assembly.

Here are a few of the websites I came across regarding Drayton:

Drayton, Thomas Fenwick

Thomas F. Drayton • Obituary Notice (Association of Graduates USMA, 1891)

Thomas Drayton (August 24, 1808 — February 18, 1891), American planter, Soldier, railroad president | World Biographical Encyclopedia

Description: Thomas Fenwick Drayton correspondence to his father Colonel William Drayton (includes some letters written during the C.L.&C.R.R. time frame).

KENTUCKY AND THE CINCINNATI-CHARLESTON RAILROAD, 1835-1839 on JSTOR

This splendid compass would make for an amazing display given the Confederate General - Early Railroad connection. The compass comes with everything you see in the pics. There is no tripod or staff adapter unfortunately.

Carte-de-visite of Thomas Fenwick Drayton, studio bust portrait of a man, 3/4 pose facing right; sitter's hair combed back, wearing a beard; double breasted Confederate uniform jacket, with General's insignia on collar; handwritten on on front, "Maj. Gen. Thos F. Drayton S.C.;" handwritten on back, "Gen. T. F. Drayton C. S. A."; and "Brig. Genl. Thomas F. Drayton C. S. A. S.C." From the Collections of the Confederate Memorial Literary Society