November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Thomas Smith Rhett was born on February 25, 1827 in South Carolina. As a young man, Rhett attended West Point Military Academy and graduated 14th in his class. Upon graduation, he was commissioned second lieutenant and served with the 4th Artillery until 1849. After spending a short time with the 4th Artillery, Rhett was assigned to the 2nd Artillery and served with them on the frontier. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1853 and resigned from the Army in 1855, after which he traveled to Maryland where he served as a bank clerk of Union Bank in Baltimore. By the fall of 1861, Rhett was in the Confederate capital and was appointed as an artillery captain on November 19, 1861. Rhett quickly climbed the chain of command and was promoted to Colonel on May 10, 1862, shortly after assuming command of Richmond defenses. Soon after, he was placed in charge of the Ordnance Bureau and in December of 1862 he was appointed as chief of artillery. Standing out amongst his peers, Rhett was recommended a promotion to Brigadier General by Major General Arnold Elzey on October 31, 1863. Shortly after the recommendation, Confederate President Jefferson Davis requested General Robert E. Lee send 2 artillery officers abroad in order to inspect and purchase artillery for the south. Rhett was chosen along with Colonel Richard Snowden Andrews of the 1st Maryland Artillery to be the necessary inspectors and ran the blockade in January 1864 from Wilmington to Europe by the way of Nassau. The 2 Confederate officers traveled the European continent visiting foundries, arsenals, and workshops. They also observed foreign military actions and forwarded the information to their superiors back in the Confederate States. Their objectives were complete in 1865 and Rhett and Andrews began their journey home. While stopping in Cuba on their way back to America to report the results of their investigations to their government, they received news of General Lee’s surrender. Their cargo of cannons they were planning to deliver to the Confederacy were sent back to England to be sold and the proceeds returned to those who had supplied the money. After the war, Rhett returned to Baltimore in 1866 and became the president of the Monumental Insurance Company. He also held the occupation as Engineer of the Mexican National Railroad. In 1877, Rhett again went into active service organizing and drilling the state artillery during the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad riots. Rhett built a house in Maryland and lived there until he passed away on December 26, 1893 in Washington D.C. at the age of 66 after falling off a step ladder and breaking his ribs which punctured his lungs. Inscribed “TS Rhett” in script on the pommel, the sword is does not exhibit any visible maker marks but is in the typical style of a Boyle & Gamble staff officer’s sword. The hilt is cast brass with pommel that features vague laurel leaves which flank the inscription. Smooth mushroom style pommel cap which connects to the mostly unadorned knucklebow. The mushroom style cap is 1 of 4 styles of pommel caps utilized by Boyle & Gamble. Crudely sand-cast guard which features the “CS and star” motif that is commonly encountered on Boyle & Gamble staff officer’s swords, surrounded by open floral scrollwork. Counterguard also features foliate motifs that are solid rather than pierced. The guard terminates with a crude teardrop quillon with rough broad leaf design. Grip is of wood, wrapped with leather, and features 7 grooves which accommodate single stands of brass wire. A bullion officer’s portepee is wrapped around the knucklebow. The blade is single edged and features a single, stopped fuller, and terminates with a spearpoint. Etched foliate and patriotic motifs adorn the blade for about half of its length. Each side features scrolled vines, with the obverse etched with several unmarked banners and the reverse etched with the script letters “C.S.A.” The sword is accompanied by a crude leather scabbard which features simple line decorated brass mounts. Obvious crude seam with mounts also exhibiting a seam. The upper and middle mounts each feature a band and carry ring, all cast as separate pieces. Brass throat on upper mount. CONDITION: The blade exhibits a light gray patina with scattered freckling. Etched decorations are slightly faint and were most likely produced as such. Guard exhibits a pleasant patina with scattered blemishes from handling, age, and casting. Grip exhibits scuffs and areas of leather loss with slightly loose brass wire. Scabbard is firm and exhibits scattered scuffs, creases, and cracks. Upper mount slides and middle mount is slightly loose. The sword fits about 80% in the scabbard. The leather body and mounts exhibit blemishes from age and handling, as well as from the crudeness of the manufacturing that are typical of Southern weaponry. Rhett’s sword is featured on pgs. 222-224 in “Confederate Presentation & Inscribed Swords & Revolvers” as well as pg. 172 of “Band of Brothers” both by Daniel Hartzler. The carry rings appear to be separating in the book photos and seem to have been adjusted since the photos were taken. This is a very nice example of a Boyle & Gamble staff officer’s sword inscribed to an officer who was very important to Confederate artillery.
Paperwork
Folder with Research