November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Joseph Putney Warner was born in 1811 and became a Baltimore silversmith, jeweler, and the city assayer from 1844 to 1852. He was a member of a city militia company from the early 1840s, and is listed as part of the Baltimore City Guards as a Lieutenant from October 29, 1852, later rising to the rank of Captain on November 15, 1854. When the Baltimore City Guards expanded to a battalion consisting of 3 companies in 1857. He is listed as a captain until August 23, 1859 when he was promoted to major. In October 1859 they were part of Maryland’s “First Light Division” of militia and Warner led them to Harpers Ferry upon news of John Brown’s raid, 1 of 3 Baltimore militia units who journeyed there by rail and were joined along the way by Col. Robert E. Lee and a detachment of Marines. Their participation at Harper’s Ferry on the ill-fated day of insurrection was recorded in local newspapers including the Richmond Dispatch and the Wilmington Journal: “At quarter past three the companies began to arrive, and in a short time all were in the cars ready for the start. The following are the military from Baltimore:…The Battalion of City Guards, Major Joseph P. Warner, with three companies, commanded respectively by Capts. Lloyd B. Parks, John G. Johannes, and Woodburn, and numbering 82 rank and file.” They arrived in the early morning hours of October 18 and were present for the assault on the firehouse and capture of John Brown and his men. Given the date of the presentation and the fact that he was still a captain only a few months prior to the raid, he most likely carried this sword while putting down John Brown’s raid. 2 years later, Warner was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the Maryland militia on February 25, 1861 and during the Civil War Warner was decidedly pro-Union, though the Baltimore City Guard, like other state militia units was obliged to disarm at the Governor’s direction. He nevertheless was active in recruiting state three-year regiments for U.S. service, taking a commission as Colonel of the 4th Maryland until it was fully recruited and organized for field service, and then returning to militia service until his death in 1862. He was well respected by his colleagues and the men under his command as his obituary states, “He took a deep interest in his command, and was highly esteemed by those under him.”. Warner’s sword is quite attractive and merits that of a respected officer. The presentation is located on the upper mount and reads “Presented to / CAPT. J.P. WARNER. / of the / Baltimore City Guards / BY THE / Members of the Company / Oct. 18, 1854”. The upper mount is marked “AMES MFG CO. / CHICOPEE / MASS”. The blade decorations are as tasteful as the presentation and feature foliate and patriotic motifs. They begin just above the ricasso, with the etched Ames maker mark that reads “Ames / Mfg. Co. / Chicopee / Mass.” and a stand of arms, intertwined with foliate scrolls that lead to a panoply of arms and a spread winged federal eagle with a banner marked with the de facto national motto terminating with foliate scrolls which morph into floral vines. The reverse blade features similar motifs, with the eagle replaced by the large letters “U.S.” and another panoply of arms. The guard is equally ornate, gilded, and features pierced open foliate and floral scrolls, terminating with a leafy quillon. The grip is of wood, neatly grooved to accommodate twisted brass wire, and wrapped in high quality sharkskin. Pommel is decorated with laurel leaves leading to a tiered cap. Complete with the black leather scabbard which features beautiful gilded mounts. Upper and middle mounts each feature the typical band with carry ring. CONDITION: The blade exhibits a pleasing gray patina with areas of freckling. The decorations are only slightly muted and remain crisp. Hilt exhibits a generous amount of its original gilding. Twisted wire remains wrapped to the grip with nice sharkskin that exhibits handling wear. The scabbard is in 3 pieces, having cracked before the middle mount, and before the drag. It is held together by a piece of wood which was inserted into the scabbard in order to display it as 1 piece. Scabbard is otherwise in good condition, exhibiting blemishes typical of old leather. Mounts retain liberal amounts of original gilding. The sword was featured on pg. 154 of “Inscribed Union Swords 1861-1865”. Included with this sword is a folder of notes from the Hartzler Collection, as well as 2 documents pertaining to Warner’s service. There is also a photo of Warner in his militia uniform with this sword on Winterthur.org. This is a very nice sword inscribed to a militia officer who was present for one of the defining moments of the American Civil War.
Paperwork
Folder with Collection Notes and Documents