1st civil war sword

[Jay64]

Looking for some help with my 1st civil war sword.

Purchased from a family member.

Some of the markings are hard to read.

Is it civil war period?

How can I tell if sword did belong to this soldier?

Lots of questions. Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Jay64]

Thank you!

 

[redbob]

You have a Civil War era Ames Light Cavalry Saber with inspector's marks, scabbard, sword knot and most interesting is it has a Saber Scabbard belt attachment which was invented, patented and sold to the US Army before the Civil War by no other than one James Ewell Brown Stuart aka "Jeb". The belt plate is post Civil War. BTW, welcome to the forum from middle Alabama.

 

[Jay64]

Hey redbob

Thanks for that info.

Do you know what the x's are for.

Can the rank of the soldier be determined from this sword?

 

[scooter748driver]

welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums. Nice saber.

 

[Jay64]

Thank you scooter.

 

[History hoarder63]

Looking for some help with my 1st civil war sword.

Purchased from a family member.

Some of the markings are hard to read.

Is it civil war period?

How can I tell if sword did belong to this soldier?

Lots of questions. Would love to hear your thoughts.

View attachment 468362

View attachment 468363

View attachment 468364

View attachment 468365

View attachment 468366

View attachment 468367

View attachment 468368

View attachment 468369

Henry L. Monteith

Residence was not listed; 18 years old. Enlisted on 2/6/1864 at Otsego, MI as a Private. On 2/12/1864 he mustered into "L" Co. MI 1st Cavalry He was Mustered Out on 3/10/1866 at Salt Lake City, UT Intra Regimental Company Transfers: * 11/17/1865 from company L to company E (Buried at Fife Lake, MI) www.civilwardata.com ​

 

[History hoarder63]

Henry L. Monteith

Residence was not listed; 18 years old. Enlisted on 2/6/1864 at Otsego, MI as a Private. On 2/12/1864 he mustered into "L" Co. MI 1st Cavalry He was Mustered Out on 3/10/1866 at Salt Lake City, UT Intra Regimental Company Transfers: * 11/17/1865 from company L to company E (Buried at Fife Lake, MI) www.civilwardata.com​

The man who likely carried this sword would have been in the following engagements…….Wilderness, Va., May 6 and 7, 1864; Beaver Dam
Station, Va., May 6, 1864; Yellow Tavern, Va., May 10 and 11,
1864; Meadow Bridge, Va., May 12, 1864; Milford, Va., May 27,
1864; Hawes' Shop, Va., May 28, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., May 30
and June 1, 1864; Trevillian Station, Va., June 11 and 12,
1864; Cold Harbor, Va., July 21, 1864; Winchester, Va., Aug.
11, 1864; Leetown, Va., Aug. 25, 1864; Shepardstown, Va., Aug.
25, 1864; Smithfield, Va., Aug. 29, 1864; Berryville, Va.,
Sept. 3, 1864; Summit, Va., Sept. 4, 1864; Opequan, Va., Sept.
19, 1864; Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864; Luray, Va., Sept.
24, 1864; Port Republic, Va., July 26, 27 and 28, 1864; Mt.
Crawford, Va., Oct. 2, 1864; Woodstock, Va., Oct. 9, 1864;
Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864; Madison Court House, Va., Dec.
24, 1864; Louisa Court House, Va., March 8, 1865; Five Forks,
Va., March 30, 31 and April 1, 1865; South Side Railroad, Va.,
April 2, 1865; Duck Pond Mills, Va., April 4, 1865; Sailor's
Creek, Va., April 6, 1865; Appomattox, Va., April 8 and 9,
1865; and Willow Springs, Dak., Aug. 12, 1865.

 

[Jay64]

History horder

Wow if that sword could talk, the stories it could tell!

Thank you for that information.

 

[captaindrew]

Hey redbob

Thanks for that info.

Do you know what the x's are for.

Can the rank of the soldier be determined from this sword?

Nice piece and welcome to the forum. It's an enlisted cavalryman's issued sword so most likely a private, corporal, or sergeant. Officers had to supply their own gear so they'd usually but not always have a little more decorative officer's version.

 

[Kurtlg]

The 1st was one of the regiments shipped west to fight Indians after the Grand Review. Imagine going through all the fighting they saw and then being sent to do more against the Sioux. As I recall the men had to pay their own way back to Michigan after mustering out in Utah

 

[Package4]

Hey redbob

Thanks for that info.

Do you know what the x's are for.

Can the rank of the soldier be determined from this sword?

The Xs are most likely identifying marks as not to confuse this saber with another. Technically, soldiers were not allowed to mark their equipment, thus the markings under the guard. There may have been a few H.M s in the regiment/company so the Xs would suffice, or they represent the 30 engagements of the regiment that he was involved.

 

[Jay64]

Package4

Thanks for your insight. Makes good since.

Does anyone have an idea of the value?

 

[Jay64]

Kurtig

It would have been heart breaking. Fighting all those years and ordered to keep fighting.

They had to have been exhausted physically and mentally.

Pretty sure I could not do it.

Thanks for note.

 

[Jay64]

Nice piece and welcome to the forum. It's an enlisted cavalryman's issued sword so most likely a private, corporal, or sergeant. Officers had to supply their own gear so they'd usually but not always have a little more decorative officer's version.

Captaindrew

Thank you for that information.

The Input from all of you has been very helpful.

 

[Kurtlg]

Kurtig

It would have been heart breaking. Fighting all those years and ordered to keep fighting.

They had to have been exhausted physically and mentally.

Pretty sure I could not do it.

Thanks for note.

I think that all of the regiments of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade were sent west and were eventually consolidated into the 1st. BTW I believe companies L and M were on detached duty from the rest of the regiments for awhile ( 1864 ?) . I am not at home currently and cannot access my references but I'm doing this from memory and could be wrong .

 

[Cavalier]

Looks like you have something really nice there.

John

Edited for grammar

 

[Sundance]

Very nice group. I'd say with the scabbard, knot and hanger/belt you'd have to be looking at $800+. Possibly being named also helps although that probably can't be firmly established short of some documentation right from the cavalryman or a contemporary family member.

 

[Jay64]

Very nice group. I'd say with the scabbard, knot and hanger/belt you'd have to be looking at $800+. Possibly being named also helps although that probably can't be firmly established short of some documentation right from the cavalryman or a contemporary family member.

Sundance

The story is really the best part.

What a life this soldier must have lived!