gjpratt
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2019
- Location
- Central Florida and WNC
John Morton was Nathan Bedford Forrest's Chief of Artillery for most of the War. The Tennessee State Museum has his presentation sword. It is a staff and field made by L.T. Cunningham's College Hill Arsenal (private) in 1861 and inscribed to Lt. J.W. Morton.
The sword's history is documented by Morton in his book, The Artillery of Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry. He describes how he received it in July 1861 and described it as having "C.S.A." embossed on one side of the blade with a Confederate [First National] flag; the reverse side of the blade was engraved (actually etched) "Lt. J.W. Morton:" and the guard contained another CSA.
Lt. Morton was captured at Fort Donelson and his sword was taken and stored at Camp Chase, where he was incarcerated. He never recovered it. That is, until many years later. Morton was appointed as a Tennessee member of the Commission of the Chickamauga Park Monument Association. The possessor of the sword at that time coincidentally mentioned to another attendee, the Mayor of Nashville, that he had a sword bearing the name Lt. J.W. Morton and he had never been able to find this officer so he could return the sword. He was referred to Morton sitting just across on the platform.
Here are the excerpts from Morton's book that tell the entire story:
The sword's history is documented by Morton in his book, The Artillery of Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry. He describes how he received it in July 1861 and described it as having "C.S.A." embossed on one side of the blade with a Confederate [First National] flag; the reverse side of the blade was engraved (actually etched) "Lt. J.W. Morton:" and the guard contained another CSA.
Lt. Morton was captured at Fort Donelson and his sword was taken and stored at Camp Chase, where he was incarcerated. He never recovered it. That is, until many years later. Morton was appointed as a Tennessee member of the Commission of the Chickamauga Park Monument Association. The possessor of the sword at that time coincidentally mentioned to another attendee, the Mayor of Nashville, that he had a sword bearing the name Lt. J.W. Morton and he had never been able to find this officer so he could return the sword. He was referred to Morton sitting just across on the platform.
Here are the excerpts from Morton's book that tell the entire story:
Last edited:
Forum Host
Bringing the