December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
A very nice Horstmann 1850 foot officer's sword with cavalry hilt and metal scabbard. Brass hilt is deeply cast and chased with floral elements and the outer branch ends in a serpent head. The lower branch terminates as part of the scrolling floral elements of the counterguard that include an American eagle with shield on its breast clutching arrows and olive branch. The serpent head is finished and detailed on the inside of the guard. Silver spiral grip with narrow triple wire in the channels showing a copper tone and maybe originally gilt. Blade is Horstmann etched and Weyersberg stamped at the base. Blade etching is one panel on either side, both with Arabesque terminals. Obverse with American eagle with gilt highlights. Reverse with "US" bordered by geometric and floral motifs. "Iron Proof" etched on the blade in two lines above the ricasso. Scabbard bright with brass mounts, each with inset oval silver plaques. Top with an American eagle with banner in flight, middle with Washington bust, lower with Benjamin Franklin. Deeply cast floral frames around each panel. Lower mount with floral cast shoe and an acorn tip.
Between the upper and middle mounts, the scabbard bears an applied oval gilt plaque reading, “Presented to Capt. Jas. McCallion / Scott Legion / by the members of his Company Apl. 16th 1864.” McCallion, a resident of Philadelphia, was enlisted and commissioned to date August 23, 1862, as First Lieutenant, Co. D 68th Pennsylvania Volunteers, nicknamed the “Scott Legion.” The regiment was assigned to Third Corps, Army of the Potomac, in October, fighting and suffering serious losses at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg, where it fought at the Peach Orchard in Birney’s Division, losing eight officers and one hundred twenty-seven men killed or wounded of three hundred eighty-three engaged. McCallion’s name appears on the Pennsylvania monument, indicating he was present on the field. The regiment also fought in the Fall campaign and at Mine Run in late November. In Spring 1864 the Third Corps was broken up, the regiment assigned to the Second Corps and placed with the Provost Guard at army headquarters, regarded as duty for well disciplined regiments who then performed a variety of functions, including emergency service in the field. It was during this period that McCallion, promoted to captain the preceding August, was presented with this elegant sword by his men. At the end of March 1865 the regiment was assigned to a temporary brigade in the Ninth Corps to take part in the assault on Petersburg on April 2, taking part in a charge from Fort Sedgwick and taking two pieces of enemy artillery. McCallion was mustered out in June with regiment in New York harbor.
CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Blade is polished, but with visible etching and gilt highlight lines, but with scattered small stains and dark gray spots and larger sections of corrosion on the blade flats from upper portion of the etched panels to the end of the fuller on either side with scattered minor pitting and gray spots above that. Scabbard and mounts polished bright. Some residual gilt in recessed areas. Hilt is very good with good detail, medium patina with subdued gilt in recessed areas. The sword is very pleasing overall and must have made an impression at Guard Mount at army headquarters. (SR)