The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994              TAG: 9410050165
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN              PAGE: 18   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                         LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

MUSEUM OPENS WAR EXHIBIT ``WE HAVE A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL CIVIL WAR HISTORY,'' SAYS CURATOR OF ISLE OF WIGHT MUSEUM.

THE BEST WAY to find out about Isle of Wight County's contribution to the Civil War is a trip to the Isle of Wight Museum, where a recently opened long-term exhibit tells the story through relics, letters and pictures.

``The exhibit just came together. People gave us things,'' says curator Nell Pittman. ``We have a good representation of local Civil War history.''

It is a history lesson that will make that subject more palatable to schools in the area.

``There'll be field trips here in the spring and fall,'' Pittman said.

The children will probably be most fascinated by the weapons on display, from pistols to sabers to bayonets.

One of the most efficient weapons was the 12-pounder Napoleon cannon. A model is on display with a description pronouncing it ``the mostly widely used of all cannons in the Civil War.''

A display of cannon balls includes one large enough to deserve a sign reading, ``please don't sit here.''

Sitting behind one glass case is a letter from Dr. Will Fritts to his Confederate soldier son, William Henry, giving an account of the arrest of two men ``who had saddlebags with $950 worth of morphine.''

The drug was used to relieve pain. The amount those arrested had in their possession was a fair-sized fortune in those days.

On the subject of money, some Civil War currency is on display next to a muster roll for Chalmer's Field Artillery.

Another display belongs to Maj. E.M. Todd.

Sitting on his field desk is a potpourri of items he used, including his wallet, powder horn, pistol, pen, glasses and riding crop.

That particular exhibit is courtesy of John Bradshaw of Isle of Wight County, whose family inherited the collection from the Todd family in the 1960s. MEMO: The exhibit of Civil War memorabilia is on display now at the Isle of

Wight Museum. For information, call 357-7459. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II

These items are included in the Civil War Exhibit at the Isle of

Wight Museum. They help tell the story of the county's involvement

in the war.

by CNB