June 12-13, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2019
M1840 presentation cavalry saber with brass throat engraved in script: "Presented to Lieutenant Charles H. Tompkins by Charles W. Elliott - In Commemoration of the Charge at Fairfax Courthouse May 31st 1861." Imported blade is stamped on the ricasso: HENRY BOKER SOLINGEN, with no other maker marks present. Sword is most likely a special order from Schulyer, Hartley & Graham. Sharkskin grip retains original wire wrap and is solid. Scabbard sow's scattered dark mottling overall, but is solid with no serious dents is original to the sword. Blade is overall gray with some light mottling with no nicks or dents. Charles Henry Tompkins (September 12th, 1830 – January 18th, 1915) was a Union Army colonel, who received an appointment to the brevet grade of Brigadier General of volunteers during the American Civil War. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on June 1st, 1861 in the Battle of Fairfax Court House. This was the first action in the Civil War for which a Union Army officer would receive the Medal of Honor, although it was not awarded until 1893. Tompkins was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia on September 12th, 1830. He was the son of Colonel Daniel D. Tompkins, a career Army officer, and was the grand nephew of Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins. He received an appointment to West Point from Brooklyn, New York as a member of the class of 1851, though he did not graduate with his class. He resigned in 1849 for unspecified reasons. Tompkins pursued private business interests until enlisting as a Private in the First Dragoons in January 1856, rising to the rank of sergeant before his enlistment ended in January 1861. He served on the western frontier and was recognized for his performance at the Second Battle of Pyramid Lake near Pyramid Lake, Nevada in June 1860. Tompkins received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment in March 1861. It was in this unit that he gained fame for his heroism in action at the Battle of Fairfax Court House while a 1st lieutenant, to which he was promoted on April 30th, 1861. Tompkins was reassigned to the 5th U.S. Cavalry Regiment on August 3rd, 1861 and served as the regimental quartermaster. On April 24th, 1862 he received a volunteer commission as colonel of the 1st Vermont Cavalry. He resigned his volunteer commission on September 9th, 1862. During the war, he received brevets (honorary promotions) to major, lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general. Tompkins has the distinction of killing the first Confederate officer to fall in the war, Captain John Quincy Marr. His citation reads: "Twice charged through the enemy's lines and, taking a carbine from an enlisted man, shot the enemy's captain." A monument to Captain Marr was erected on June 1st, 1904 near the front of the courthouse where it remains today. It reads: "This stone marks the scene of the opening conflict of the war of 1861–1865, when John Q. Marr, captain of the Warrenton Rifles, who was the first soldier killed in action, fell 800 feet south, 46 degrees West of the spot. June 1st, 1861. Erected by the Marr Camp, C.V., June 1st, 1904." Tompkins was later appointed as one of the nine officers assigned to the military commission investigating the conspirators involved in President Lincoln's assassination. Because of a dispute with General Grant, between 1866 and 1881 he was posted to numerous remote and austere western posts. He served the remainder of his career in the Quartermaster Corps, rising to Assistant Quartermaster General on January 24th, 1881. The position of Assistant Quartermaster General, carried a rank of colonel in the Regular Army, to which Tompkins was promoted the same day. He finished his career serving on the east coast, voluntarily retiring on September 12th, 1894. His eldest son, Selah Reeve Hobbie (“Tommy”) Tompkins, was an Army officer who became Colonel of the 7th Cavalry Regiment. His second son, Colonel Frank Tompkins, also served as a career army officer including notable participation as a major in the 13th Cavalry in both the raid on Columbus, New Mexico by Pancho Villa and the Punitive Expedition that followed for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. A large archive of family photos of these men is being offered in a separate lot.
Condition: (Very Good).