December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
A Clauberg marked presentation staff and field officer's saber presented to Major James Given (properly "Givin") of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, nicknamed the "Saber Regiment," from its propensity to use that close-combat weapon in western cavalry fights. The deeply cast and chased brass hilt is of the 1850 configuration, but with cast floral motifs on the pommel cap and an acorn/urn finial. The silver cast grip has oak leaves, vines and berries on a stippled background. The counterguard includes the regulation cutout "US," but is surrounded not only by floral elements but by a large eagle fighting with a snake, whose tail protrudes through the "U." The motifs are cast and chased on the exterior and interior of the guard and the guard has additional scrolling foliage on the interior at base of grip. The blade prominently bears the motto, "FOR UNION AND LIBERTY" etched on the obverse along with floral and military motifs that include a US shield at the bottom and an eagle head at the top of the etched panel. A scroll panel for a retailer address has been left blank. On the reverse a Clauberg blade stamp appears on the ricasso and the eagle head again at top of the etched panel. Floral and martial motifs flank a "US" that in turn encloses an American eagle with spreadwings, arrows, olive branch and motto ribbon. The scabbard is bright steel with brass mounts bearing deeply cast borders and engraved motifs obverse and reverse. The obverse of the mounts includes applied, raised circular wreaths on the top and middle, the top with an eagle over sword and spear, the middle with a panoply of arms with oval shield. The lower mount has a deeply cast full-standing soldier at parade rest with crossed flags behind, topped with a victory wreath. The mounts are also profusely engraved with US shields, an eagle, flags, and "US" on the reverse and with stippling, geometric and floral motifs and a blank inscription panel at top. The reverse of the scabbard was reserved for the presentation inscription and the sword is one of two known that were presented to different officers by the same committee on the same date. The inscription is professionally done in five lines of script placed lengthwise and reads: “Presented to Major James Given 7th Penn. Cavalry / by the officers at the Camp of paroled prisoners / Annapolis Md. Nov. 25th 1862. / Committee / Capt. F.J. Keffer 71st Penn / 1st Lt. J.I.J. Kiersted 66th N.Y.”. James Givin (ca. 1834-1880) of West Chester, PA, had prior service as Major in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry from April 20, 1861 to July 26, 1861. He also had subsequent service as Lt. Colonel of the 127th USCT from 8/23/64 to 10/20/65, serving with the 10th Corps, Army of the James, in operations against Petersburg and Richmond. The 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry recruited in Fall 1861 and Givin (or “Given” as spelled in the inscription and some military records) received a commission as Major dating to December 20, 1861. The regiment was assigned to the Army of Ohio and in January 1862 was posted at Nashville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon, from where it engaged in scouting in western and middle Tennessee. In May two battalions of the regiment, including Givin’s, were part of General Dumont’s force that attacked and defeated Morgan at Lebanon, the Pennsylvanians conducting a saber charge at the opening of the battle. Givin was captured in the hot and confused engagement, “after fighting most bravely, and proving himself of the most undoubted pluck,” in the words of the official report. Givin was released on parole by Morgan soon after and less than two weeks later Andrew Johnson, recent senator and newly appointed military governor of Tennessee, wrote on his behalf to Secretary of War Stanton requesting his help in expediting his official exchange, “The Major is exceedingly desirous of being exchanged. . . . He is a worthy officer, has rendered efficient service, and is ready and anxious to renew his efforts to put down this infernal rebellion.” Givin, however, was still waiting for exchange for a captured Confederate officer of equal rank when he was presented with this sword in November. He may have decided to resolve the impasse by resigning on medical grounds the following March, but in any case returned to service the next year with a new commission in the USCT. (Of the presenters, Francis J. Keffer, of “Baker’s California Regiment,” the 71st PA, had been captured at Ball’s Bluff. He had a close call as POW, being designated a hostage for Confederates captured at sea and threatened with trial for piracy, a capital offense. By January 1863, however, he had been exchanged and assigned to duty at Camp Parole, where he was Provost Marshal in 1864, the same year that Kiersted, less fortunate, was dismissed from the army.) CONDITION: Very good. Brass hilt has an even mellow patina, though little remaining gilt. Blade is bright with very legible etchings. Some scattered small gray spots on reverse with small gray area on lower part of bottom military and floral motif. Three gray spots lower edge near tip reverse. Small patch light pitting near tip obverse. Scabbard mounts have medium patina and wonderful detail matching the impressive hilt. (SR)