JAMES CONNING CONFEDERATE OFFICER’S SWORD OF LIEUTENANT R.M. ROGERS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES REVENUE MARINE SERVICE.

JAMES CONNING CONFEDERATE OFFICER’S SWORD OF LIEUTENANT R.M. ROGERS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES REVENUE MARINE SERVICE. Not only is this among the finest James Conning, Mobile, Alabama, made foot officer’s sword but it is also the only known presentation to a Confederate in the Revenue Marines. Lt. Rogers came from a long line of naval officers and Marines; his father William Rogers had served with Stephen Decatur on the “Enterprise” and the “Intrepid” during the War of 1812 and had been at Tripoli during the Barbary Coast War in 1804. His younger brother William F. Rogers was a U.S. Revenue Marine and later Confederate Revenue Marine. 3rd Lt Robert M. Rogers received his commission in the Confederate States Revenue Marines May 4, 1861 by order of Stephen Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate Navy. Lt. Rogers was immediately ordered to the CSS Revenue Cutter “Morgan”, then stationed at Mobile, Alabama. Rogers performed his duty with efficiency, protecting Confederate assets in Mobile Bay. In December of 1861 Lt. Rogers took command of the Schooner “Clair”. He transversed the Union blockade and on Feb 13, 1862 he arrived back in Mobile with a cargo of gun powder and other valuable ordnance. Within a month after his daring blockade run, Rogers was given command of the CSS gunboat “Bradford” in Pensacola, Florida and again ran the blockade from Pensacola back to Mobile. In July 1862 Rogers was ordered to Choctow Bluff, Alabama to train the men of the 36th Alabama in the use of coastal artillery guns. On August 19, 1862 Rogers was assigned to the staff of General Frank Gardner, then located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, preparing for the imminent invasion of Kentucky with Braxton Bragg. Here Rogers was in charge of ordnance. It was in this capacity that he saw active service throughout the ill fated Kentucky campaign, where according to General Gardner he served with “zeal and energy” On October 1st, in recognition for his outstanding performance and attention to duty, General Gardner recommended that Rogers be promoted to 1st Lt. of Artillery. General Gardner, in April 1863, requested Lt. Rogers be made Captain of Artillery. “Interesting note on the history of this sword is that it did not descend in the family of Lt. Rogers but in the family of Confederate Major James W. Spratley of Mobile. An examination of Major Spratley’s military career and background show a close relationship to that of Captain Rogers. Rogers first met Spratley on August 19 when he was transferred to General Gardner’s staff where Spratley was also on the staff. In April 1863 Rogers was ordered to Richmond, Virginia for a meeting with the War Department and perhaps visit the family of his friend Major Spratley who lived in nearby Smithfield, Virginia. In anticipation of the long, tiresome and rather difficult journey laying ahead and his inevitable return, Rogers took only the absolute essentials to make traveling as light as possible, leaving the major portion of his baggage, including his sword, with Spratley, his friend and compatriot in arms. History, of course, took a fateful hand in the sequence of events that follow and Rogers was never to see Spratley and his sword again”. Spratley lived in Mobile until his death in 1912. Rogers post war residence and career remains a mystery as his life is not known after his parole on May 22, 1865 as Captain and Assistance Ordnance Officer for the State of Alabama. This most historical sword is described in detail on page 32 in William Albaugh’s “Confederate Edged Weapons”. Albaugh states: “This weapon was once owned by Major J. W. Spratley…on the staff of General Gardner, CSA and used at the siege of Ft. Hudson after the original owner Rogers had been killed.” There are several hundreds pages of correspondence and notes concerning the history and provenance on this sword, but we cannot find any mention of Rogers’ death. Rogers is also mentioned in the 1978 publication by Ralph W. Donnelly “History of the Confederate States Marine Corps”. PROVENANCE: Captain Robert M. Rogers; Major James Walter Spratley; Walter W. Stephen (great-grandson); William Albaugh; James C. Harris; Southern collection. CONDITION: 29-3/4″ blade is gray/bright with scattered areas of staining and pitting. The leather grip wrap is complete. The twisted brass wire is complete and tight though there is an apparent (war time?) repair and replacement of a finer twisted brass wire. Patina to brass hilt, pommel and scabbard mounts is present with scattered scratches, small dings and dents, especially in the drag. Small traces of orig gold wash is visible on hilt, pommel and top mount and also present on snap ring from sword belt still attached to top notch. SN “204” are well struck and discernible on all 3 scabbard mounts and hilt. Leather scabbard body is sound and solid with scattered cracks, scuffs and scrapes. 8-76338 JS237 (25,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2249	$0.00	JAMES CONNING CONFEDERATE OFFICER’S SWORD OF LIEUTENANT R.M. ROGERS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES REVENUE MARINE SERVICE. Not only is this among the finest James Conning, Mobile, Alabama, made foot officer’s sword but it is also the only known presentation to a Confederate in the Revenue Marines. Lt. Rogers came from a long line of naval officers and Marines; his father William Rogers had served with Stephen Decatur on the “Enterprise” and the “Intrepid” during the War of 1812 and had been at Tripoli during the Barbary Coast War in 1804. His younger brother William F. Rogers was a U.S. Revenue Marine and later Confederate Revenue Marine. 3rd Lt Robert M. Rogers received his commission in the Confederate States Revenue Marines May 4, 1861 by order of Stephen Mallory, Secretary of the Confederate Navy. Lt. Rogers was immediately ordered to the CSS Revenue Cutter “Morgan”, then stationed at Mobile, Alabama. Rogers performed his duty with efficiency, protecting Confederate assets in Mobile Bay. In December of 1861 Lt. Rogers took command of the Schooner “Clair”. He transversed the Union blockade and on Feb 13, 1862 he arrived back in Mobile with a cargo of gun powder and other valuable ordnance. Within a month after his daring blockade run, Rogers was given command of the CSS gunboat “Bradford” in Pensacola, Florida and again ran the blockade from Pensacola back to Mobile. In July 1862 Rogers was ordered to Choctow Bluff, Alabama to train the men of the 36th Alabama in the use of coastal artillery guns. On August 19, 1862 Rogers was assigned to the staff of General Frank Gardner, then located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, preparing for the imminent invasion of Kentucky with Braxton Bragg. Here Rogers was in charge of ordnance. It was in this capacity that he saw active service throughout the ill fated Kentucky campaign, where according to General Gardner he served with “zeal and energy” On October 1st, in recognition for his outstanding performance and attention to duty, General Gardner recommended that Rogers be promoted to 1st Lt. of Artillery. General Gardner, in April 1863, requested Lt. Rogers be made Captain of Artillery. “Interesting note on the history of this sword is that it did not descend in the family of Lt. Rogers but in the family of Confederate Major James W. Spratley of Mobile. An examination of Major Spratley’s military career and background show a close relationship to that of Captain Rogers. Rogers first met Spratley on August 19 when he was transferred to General Gardner’s staff where Spratley was also on the staff. In April 1863 Rogers was ordered to Richmond, Virginia for a meeting with the War Department and perhaps visit the family of his friend Major Spratley who lived in nearby Smithfield, Virginia. In anticipation of the long, tiresome and rather difficult journey laying ahead and his inevitable return, Rogers took only the absolute essentials to make traveling as light as possible, leaving the major portion of his baggage, including his sword, with Spratley, his friend and compatriot in arms. History, of course, took a fateful hand in the sequence of events that follow and Rogers was never to see Spratley and his sword again”. Spratley lived in Mobile until his death in 1912. Rogers post war residence and career remains a mystery as his life is not known after his parole on May 22, 1865 as Captain and Assistance Ordnance Officer for the State of Alabama. This most historical sword is described in detail on page 32 in William Albaugh’s “Confederate Edged Weapons”. Albaugh states: “This weapon was once owned by Major J. W. Spratley…on the staff of General Gardner, CSA and used at the siege of Ft. Hudson after the original owner Rogers had been killed.” There are several hundreds pages of correspondence and notes concerning the history and provenance on this sword, but we cannot find any mention of Rogers’ death. Rogers is also mentioned in the 1978 publication by Ralph W. Donnelly “History of the Confederate States Marine Corps”. PROVENANCE: Captain Robert M. Rogers; Major James Walter Spratley; Walter W. Stephen (great-grandson); William Albaugh; James C. Harris; Southern collection. CONDITION: 29-3/4″ blade is gray/bright with scattered areas of staining and pitting. The leather grip wrap is complete. The twisted brass wire is complete and tight though there is an apparent (war time?) repair and replacement of a finer twisted brass wire. Patina to brass hilt, pommel and scabbard mounts is present with scattered scratches, small dings and dents, especially in the drag. Small traces of orig gold wash is visible on hilt, pommel and top mount and also present on snap ring from sword belt still attached to top notch. SN “204” are well struck and discernible on all 3 scabbard mounts and hilt. Leather scabbard body is sound and solid with scattered cracks, scuffs and scrapes. 8-76338 JS237 (25,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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