By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Liam Opie realizes that recovering a family heirloom — a Confederate marksman’s musket — stolen in 1972 from a library exhibit, is like finding a needle in a haystack.

But, he figures it is worth a try.

The musket was last in the hands of Liam’s great-great-great uncle, Lewis Lyman Keen, born in Waterford in 1883. He lived in Bridgton, and graduated from Bridgton High School in 1902 or 1903.

He grew up on a farm in Waterford, near the section of Temple Hill and Mill Hill. The farm was purchased after the Civil War by Lewis’ father, William Keen.

“My Uncle Louie kept it (the musket) under his bed to keep it safe,” Liam said.

When Lewis died, the musket was inherited by Liam’s grandmother.

In May 1972, the musket was loaned to the Bridgton Public Library to be part of an exhibit. Then, it disappeared.

According to a story appearing in The News, police found no “visible forced entry” into the library. One theory was the culprit remained inside the library after closing time, and later walked out of the facility with musket in hand.

“There were no real leads or fingerprints,” Liam said. “Our family has been clueless as to where it could be now; who could have taken it; we have no personal grievances with anyone who may have taken it; we want it to be known that if someone locally, across the state or nation has it, we’re not interested how they got it, and not interested in pressing charges; we just want it back into our family’s hands.”

It’s a unique musket in design and it has specific engravings.

“I do believe I have a higher chance of finding it than say some standard issued Springfield musket that any other soldier would have received. Because of the design and initials engraved on its polished stock (on another page of Uncle Louie’s notes, the GA could also be IA), if someone has this musket, we have photographic evidence what the musket looks like, there should be no mixing it up,” Liam said. “I do have a little hope.”

The family is willing to offer “reasonable compensation” for the musket’s return.

“We don’t know who originally took it. If someone paid a decent amount of money for it, we can understand they have this beautiful musket that is an investment,” Liam added. “It was an extremely sad and disheartening loss for my family, as my Uncle Louie had cherished this musket along with his brothers and his father, who had served in the Civil War himself.”

Why is the young Liam (a high school senior) trying to play family sleuth?

Late last year, Liam took a major interest in honoring the Civil War soldiers buried in the Middle Ridge Cemetery by placing a monument there. He researched each soldier’s past, and in doing so, he reconnected with his own lineage.

Like his Uncle Louie, Liam has long had a fascination with the Civil War era.

“Two events seemed to spark my interest in history. When I was five or six, my brother was watching ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and I sat next to him. The infamous storming of the beach — a very sad scene, but I looked on in fascination and respect. Here were these men going above and beyond the call of duty. I had a lot of respect for these veterans. I quickly realized that this just wasn’t the movies, that there were real men who had experienced this and were alive today and can tell their stories. That got me started in my interest in the military,” he said. “As for family history, I was in kindergarten and my father decided to explain to me our family heritage. On my father’s side, he was born in Virginia. Through my lineage, I’m the fifth great-nephew of Robert E. Lee.”

He added, “In the spirit of what I am trying to accomplish for the Civil War soldiers on a local level, I would like to make a family goal of trying to get this musket back into family hands. The musket could have gone missing and ended up into someone’s hand locally or it could be anywhere now. This being said, I would like to give it a shot and put a story out there for someone who may have it to see.” 

The family lineage is well-documented. As is the history of the old Confederate rifle, which Lewis Keen noted in a typed manuscript. The story goes as follows:

“This Confederate rifle was found on the battlefield of Gettsyburg, Pa., on the morning of July 4, 1863, beside the body of a Rebel sharpshooter following the terrible fighting of July 3.

To be a little more specific, my father’s (William Keen) regiment, the Third Vermont Vol. Infantry, after a forced march of some 30 miles, reached the battlefield late in the afternoon of July 3, and immediately made camp for the night, lying on the ground to rest until the expected resumption of the battle the next morning. However, during the night, under the cover of darkness, General Lee skillfully gathered together the greater part of his weary and badly beaten army and made his escape South. Thus, the battle ended as a victory for the North. So, the next morning, July 4, 1863, the 3rd Vermont Infantry, instead of going directly into battle, as was expected, was with many other regiments given the highly-disagreeable duty of burying the fallen soldiers, both Blue and Gray, that littered the blood-soaked battlefield. Both friend and foe received the same kind of attention. During his process of burial, one soldier in Blue remarked, ‘That is a mighty fine gun. We will save it.’

So, it was carefully cleaned, layed aside, and later was shipped far North, where it eventually found a welcome home in a cozy farmhouse in far-away Waterford, Maine.

During many years following, it rested in an honored spot on the wall of this farm home in Waterford. During these years, my older brothers and I often used it for target practice, and it was wonderfully accurate, outshooting the more modern rifles we owned. In the year 1900, the family moved to Bridgton and the trusty old rifle just naturally came with us. It has never since been loaded or fired, but has led a quiet and respected life as befits an old soldier.

If this treasured rifle could talk, it could tell us many interesting facts we will never know. We do know, however, that its original owner must have been an expert marksman, otherwise, he would have carried an ordinary musket and marched in the ranks. Also, he could afford the best, to have it inlaid and decorated with silver and ivory. He loved it enough to have his initials, the letters ‘GA’ engraved on its polished stock, where all could see.

My father passed away in 1911 at the age of 71, since which time I have been its keeper. Now on this anniversary date of the great battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 — now July 3, 1963 — I am at the age of 80 years, the last and only living member of my family. Who gets the old relic or where it will be 100 years from now, I do not know, but I most sincerely trust and hope that it will still be treasured.”

Lewis also penned “The Old Rifle Speaks” in 1963.

“Now, my good friends and readers, to some of you this may sound pretty silly. You know and I know that I really can’t talk. No rifle can, but forgive me for trying. I’ve had fun and fun is what I enjoy most of all. Actually, this is the vivid imagination of a little old man (my keeper) together with a few facts well known to any boy or girl who studies American history…”

The final paragraph reads, “Since that time, the youngest son (Lewis) has been my keeper. Now, he is past 80 years of age and I am wondering what the future holds for me? Where I will be a hundred years from now, I have no idea, but I hope my future owners will care for me as well as I have been cared for in the past. But, I am not worrying. Somebody will look after me, I’m sure. Adieu kind friends of the happy past as I look cheerfully forward to the now unknown future.”

The Old Rifle wondered what it’s future would be. Liam Opie hopes the treasured musket returns to his family, especially his 75-year-old grandmother, and puts an end to a four-decade plus mystery.

To contact Liam, e-mail opiegenealogist419@gmail.com or mail to Liam Opie, 73 Middle Ridge Road, Bridgton, ME 04009.