April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/13/2023
This is elegant M1850 Foot Officer’s Sword was presented by the men of his company to an officer who seems to have signed up specifically to answer the emergency call for troops to meet Lee’s move north in the Gettysburg campaign. The sword features a beautiful blade, decorated for more than half its length with etched floral, patriotic, and foliate motifs. The obverse features leafy vines followed by a spread winged federal eagle with banner in bean, contained in a styled vignette. The eagle is followed by a stand of arms that rests atop the maker mark etched “Schuyler- / Hartley- / & Graham- / New York” above a plain ricasso. The reverse features similar motifs with the eagle replaced by the letters “U.S.” with a nicely etched star panel leading to a sunburst above the ricasso marked “CLAUBERG / SOLINGEN” Surrounding the trademark knight. Elegant guard with open work floral scrolls and a nicely executed eagle head quillion. Brass grip with simulated leaves, grooved and wrapped with strands of twisted brass wire. Pommel with scrollwork and a pair of crossed cannons. Nice bullion knot wrapped around the grip. Complete with its black leather scabbard that features brass mounts, each decorated with budding flowers. The upper ring mount is engraved in a combination of script and block letters: “Presented / to / LIEUT. Wm. H. WRIGHT / BY / the Members of Comp. G./ 56th Regt. N.G.S.N.Y. / July 28th 1863.” This regiment of the “National Guard State of New York” was based in Brooklyn and mobilized 476 officers and men for emergency duty in response to the War Department’s call of 15 June 1863. Wright enrolled at Brooklyn for thirty-days service on June 18 and left the state with the regiment on June 20 headed for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. That capital city was the object of Confederate probes and scouting from Confederate force that had reached Carlisle and Mechanicsburg, resulting in skirmishes between CS cavalry and artillery under Gen. Albert Jenkins and New York and Pennsylvania militia on June 29. The 56th was one of several regiments involved in the skirmishing and artillery fire at Oyster Point, located in Camp Hill, about 3 miles outside the city, resulting in about 50 casualties among Confederate forces and a dozen among the defenders. Further reconnaissance and attempts on the city were fortunately called off as Lee turned to face Meade’s pursuing forces. The regiment remained in US service until July 24, when it mustered out at Brooklyn. Wright’s record before and after this service is unclear. He is not among the officers of the regiment while purely a militia unit in either 1862 or 1863. A previous owner identified him as a former enlisted man in the New York artillery and later commander of a Brooklyn G.A.R. post, and New York officers’ records suggest a connection with a member of the 77th New York, but these may all be coincidences of name. More research is certainly possible, the key fact is that he stepped forward in an emergency, had the character, and likely experience, to gain an officer’s commission, and performed credibly enough to merit a great sword from the men under his command. CONDITION: The blade remains bright with a slight patina and scattered light blemishes. Guard with pleasant dark patina consistent throughout its construction. Scabbard is firm with one slight bend between middle mount and drag. Scattered light scuffs and surface cracking. A very nice example of a Civil War presentation sword.
Paperwork
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