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In August of 1864, Francis Amasa Walker was a Colonel serving as Adjutant-General on the staff of Winfield Scott Hancock. George Thomas "Tige" Anderson was Brigadier General of Anderson's Brigade, Field's Division, Longstreet's Corps, ANV. His brigade consisted of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 59th Georgia. Jacob W. Scott was a young Private in Company K 9th Georgia Infantry, serving on "extra duty" as a scout.
On August 26, 1864, Pvt. Cobb captured Colonel Walker at Ream's Station and turned the captured sword over to Brig Gen Anderson.* Cobb later described it as a "very fine sword" and Tige Anderson called it "a splendid sword."**
Tige Anderson carried the sword for the rest of the war. Sixteen years later, in 1880, Anderson was serving as the Chief of Police in Atlanta, Georgia when he sent the sword, along with a note to Walker, who was at the time, serving as head of the US Census Department in Washington, DC:
Atlanta, Ga.
Col. Francis A. Walker, Adjutant-General U.S.A.
Dear Sir:
At the engagement at Ream's Station, in August, 1864, between the Hancock Corps and the Confederate troops, by the fortunes of war, you were made a prisoner and deprived of arms. Your sword came into my possession, and I wore it from that time until the surrender at Appomattox. I prized it highly as a memento of a severe engagement; but its value was doubly enhanced its coming from a corps from which we had received more hard knocks than trophies. I have endeavored to keep its blade as bright as when it came into my possession, and I flatter myself that its lustre was never dimmed by an unsoldierly act of mine. Giving you credit for as pure a patriotism in your defense of the Stars and Stripes as I claim for myself in my support of the Stars and Bars, and appreciating a soldier's love for his arms, it affords me sincere pleasure to return this sword to your possession, which I would have done long since had I known your address.
Very respectfully and truly yours.
George F [T] Anderson
Ex-Brig.-Gen. C.S.A.
Col. Francis A. Walker, Adjutant-General U.S.A.
Dear Sir:
At the engagement at Ream's Station, in August, 1864, between the Hancock Corps and the Confederate troops, by the fortunes of war, you were made a prisoner and deprived of arms. Your sword came into my possession, and I wore it from that time until the surrender at Appomattox. I prized it highly as a memento of a severe engagement; but its value was doubly enhanced its coming from a corps from which we had received more hard knocks than trophies. I have endeavored to keep its blade as bright as when it came into my possession, and I flatter myself that its lustre was never dimmed by an unsoldierly act of mine. Giving you credit for as pure a patriotism in your defense of the Stars and Stripes as I claim for myself in my support of the Stars and Bars, and appreciating a soldier's love for his arms, it affords me sincere pleasure to return this sword to your possession, which I would have done long since had I known your address.
Very respectfully and truly yours.
George F [T] Anderson
Ex-Brig.-Gen. C.S.A.
The letter appeared in the Chicago Daily Tribune., September 20, 1880, Page 7.
* More on the circumstances of Walker's capture available at Beyond the Crater
**Source of additional info: The Weekly Constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.), August 17, 1880, page 3.
Anybody know where this particular sword is today? @Lanyard Puller @Richard E. Schenk @Grayrock Volunteer @Glen_C @Package4 @ucvrelics.com @Western Reserve Volunteer @Jobe Holiday @johan_steele
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