This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2023
Very nice example of a presentation grade M1850 officer's sword with "W. Clauberg Solingen" marked ricasso and "IRON PROOF" marked spine. Blade is bright and features elegantly gold-washed panels. Cast openwork guard with small letters "US" with ornate knuckle bow. Pommel features a jewel cap and is decorated with a federal eagle. Hilt retains generous amounts of its gilded finish with nice patina. Silver-washed grip with simulated twisted wire. Complete with an ornate scabbard that is nicely finished with beautifully cast and gilded brass mounts. Most of the original blued finish is present with some wear and a nice patina to mounts. The scabbard is engraved on the reverse next to the upper ring, "Presented / to / Capt. John Sargent / by / Co. M. 8th Ill. / Cav'y." This very active and hard-fighting unit opened the battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, when one of its officers borrowed a carbine to fire the first shot at advancing Confederates west of the town. Born in Canada in 1836, Sargent had risen from the ranks in Company M. A 25-year-old teacher in Rockford, Illinois, he enlisted there on September 3rd, 1861, as a corporal, was soon promoted to sergeant and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant November 1. He was promoted 1st Lieutenant on April 27th, 1864, and Captain July 8th, serving until muster out with the regiment at Benton Barracks, Missouri, on July 17, 1865. He was a member of Chicago, GAR Post #770 after the war and died in Rockford in 1899. The regiment mustered in for service September 18th, 1861, and served to the end of the war in the eastern theatre, losing 7 officers and 68 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and scores of others wounded who recovered or lived long enough to be discharged. It was posted at Warrenton, Virginia, until April 1862, meeting the enemy 4 times, and then joining the Peninsula Campaign, 6 of its companies fighting Jackson at Mechanicsville. It fought at Gaines Mill, Dispatch Station, and Malvern Hill. In the Antietam Campaign, it fought at Poolesville, took the colors of the 12th Virginia Cavalry at Monocacy Church, 20 prisoners at Barnesville, fought at Sugar Loaf Mountain, Middletown, South Mountain, and Boonsboro, where it captured 2 artillery pieces and 200 prisoners. It fought at Antietam and, in the advance of the army to Falmouth and Fredericksburg, fought Confederate cavalry at Philomont, Uniontown, Upperville, Barbee's Crossroads, Little Washington, and Amissville. In 1863, it was engaged at Sulphur Springs, near Warrenton, Rapidan Station, Northern Neck, Boteler's Ford, Upperville, Fairfield, Gettysburg, Williamsburg, Boonsboro, Funkstown, Falling Waters, Chester Gap, Sandy Hook, near Culpeper, Brandy Station, the raid from Dumfries to Falmouth, Pony Mountain, Raccoon Ford, Liberty Mills, Manassas, Warrenton Junction, Rixeyville, Mitchell's Station, and Ely's Ford. In 1864 it was posted in the Washington defenses and took part in numerous scouts, expeditions, and skirmishes in northern Virginia and faced Early at Monocacy, while a detachment serving in the Army of the Potomac saw action in all of Grant's major battles of the Overland Campaign. They returned west for muster out at Benton Barracks, Missouri, in July 1865. CONDITION: Very good.
Item Dimensions: 40"
Paperwork
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