Bragg's presentation sword

[samp]

I posted this in the Stonewall and Bragg discussion but see some merit in a new post. Anyone have any documentation on the presentation?
Why was H. Marshall chosen to make the sword? He was not, and is still not very well known.

They may have liked him or been sucking, up but the brigades of Bate and Finley presented Bragg with an H. Marshall saber and inscribed on a plate attached to the scabbard.

"Presented to Genl Braxton Bragg. C.S.A. by the Brigades of Bate and Finley as a slight token ot their high appreciation of his military services and a compliment to his personal gallantry witnessed by them amid the misfortunes of the day at the Battle of Missionary Ridge Nov. 2th 1863.To him whose history shows that he loves his country more than he loves himself "


Cordially,
Sam
​

 

[lwhite64]

Not sucking up. Bate's old Brigade was a solid Pro Bragg unit, all of the Colonels were Pro Bragg men and the unit had been formed for that purpose, and was a strong fighting brigade, see their actions at Chickamauga. Finley's command had largely been part of Bragg's old Corps and JJ. Finley was a Pro Bragg man, (Some of the strongest support for Bragg can be found among the units of his old Corps, his old Pensacola command) Also note, that this sword was presented to him AFTER Missionary Ridge, so AFTER he had resigned from command of the Army of Tennessee. As to Marshall, he was in Atlanta, Patrick Cleburne's sword, also at the AHC was also a Marshall sword.

 

[samp]

Thanks. I did not know Cleburne's sword was an H Marshall. Are there any available photos of it?
My G-Grandfather was in Company H 37th Ga Bates Brigade.

Cordially,
Sam

 

[lwhite64]

Sam,
The only picture I am aware of it was in the Confederate Vol. of the Echoes of Glory set, that Time Life did nearly 20 years ago. The 37th GA is an interesting unit, Ive done a lot of research on their Colonel Anthony Rudler, a very interesting character.

Lee

 

[Nathanb1]

The Atlanta History Center has a neat web page with photos of the sword and an article. Check out their other online exhibits--there are some really wonderful ones about uniforms in the their collection.

http://www.pba.org/programming/programs/tia_history/cleburnesword/

Darn, the video made me all weepy AGAIN.....

 

[samp]

Ok So the blade is not H. Marshall but the engraving on the scabbard may be (Marshall was a dentist). I'll see if I can find out.
Cordially,
Sam

 

[Nathanb1]

Makes sense--they said a dentist did the engraving....

 

[Nathanb1]

Just found another site that said his sword was missing when they found the body. Is this another sword? Is there one floating around somewhere else? I know there was a big foo-foo over his pistol about a year ago....

 

[samp]

missing

True the one at The Atlanta Historical Society was the one found in his luggage. So the one he died with is apparently missing in action.

Cordially,
Sam

 

[lwhite64]

True, the sword at AHC is his presentation sword, it along with his dress coat, etc, were with his baggage when he was killed. The coat that the MOC has and claim he was wearing when he was killed is his dress coat.

Lee

 

[samp]

For the two of you that were looking at this post

I have confirmed that H. Marsahall (Atlanta sword maker and dentist) was the one that inscribed the scabbard of Pat Cleburne's saber.

Cordially,
Sam Patterson

 

[Nathanb1]

I have confirmed that H. Marsahall (Atlanta sword maker and dentist) was the one that inscribed the scabbard of Pat Cleburne's saber.

Cordially,
Sam Patterson

Thanks, Sam!!! Now I have to go back and look at that site and see what else was stolen from his body....