HISTORIC REVOLUTIONARY WAR SILVER HILTED SMALL SWORD PURPORTEDLY PRESENTED TO OFFICER EPHRAIM DOUGLAS BY GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON.

HISTORIC REVOLUTIONARY WAR SILVER HILTED SMALL SWORD PURPORTEDLY PRESENTED TO OFFICER EPHRAIM DOUGLAS BY GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON. This French made sword measures just over 40″ with 33-1/2″ colichemarde blade. This is a beautiful French made sword exhibiting pierced work to pommel, cross guard and pas d’anes, and “crosshatched diamond cuts” popular circa 1770. Grip is composed of varying sizes of twisted and woven silver wire. Scabbard retains its top silver mount with only about a 20″ segment of leather scabbard body remaining. There is a small group of documents accompanying this sword detailing its history. This important and historic silver-hilted sword is accompanied by documentation of an unbroken line of provenance beginning with the Gen. Ephraim Douglass’ daughter Sarrah and thus passed through various relatives before being given outside the family in 1963 where after the owners are clearly identified through a series of accounts and letters. A newspaper article also accompanies this sword from the Topeka (Kansas) Daily from 1930. The occasion for the article was the display of the celebrated sword at a meeting of the Tokepka chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. This article was written while the sword was in the possession of Mrs. Charles Miller, the last direct descendant of General Douglass to own the sword. Although the article erroneously titles Douglass as a “General” he, in fact ended his military career as a Major in the Continental Army. The article states that this sword was presented to General Douglass by George Washington, which confirms other oral tradition promulgated by the familial descendants related directly to this silver-hilted small sword. There is a sketch of the sword presented here at the top of the article. Ephraim Douglass was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1750. Around the age of 18 he went to Fort Pitt, where he worked for a few years as a carpenter after which he engaged in the Indian trade at Pittsburg and Kittanning in partnership with Devereux Smith and Richard Butler. With the opening of hostilities in the War of Independence, Douglass became the quartermaster of the Eighth Pennsylvania regiment. He left that post to become General Benjamin Lincoln’s aide de camp and in that service was captured by the British at Bound Brook, N. J., on April 13, 1777, and for more than two years was a prisoner in New York. After his parole, and having suffered greatly in prison, he was appointed assistant commissary for the department at Fort Pitt. In the autumn of 1781 he was sent on a dangerous reconnaissance mission into the Indian country of Southern Ohio, and did not return until May, 1782. His knowledge of the Indians in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio caused General Lincoln to recommend him to the Secretary at War. Perhaps Ephraim Douglass’ most celebrated mission was to lead a party West to inform the Indian populations of the settlement with Great Britain and, thus, quell the conflicts on the Western front and gain the friendship of the Indian nations for the fledgling country. He was accompanied on his journey by Captain George McCully, who had been associated with him in the Indian trade and had also served with distinction in the Revolution, and by a wilderness guide. These three men, well mounted and carrying a white flag, left Fort Pitt on June 7, 1783, and rode to the Sandusky River, where they arrived about a week later. There they met with the leadership of the Delawares. While the Delawares were strongly in favor of peace, they declined to enter into a treaty until after Major Douglass had sought solace with the Wyandots and the Shawnees. The Shawnees had apparently been called to Detroit, to attend a great Indian council with the British commander there. Douglass, therefore, decided to go to the British fort, and on the last day of June he and McCully set out, in company with the Delawares. Douglass arrived at the British post on July 4 and had a very civil reception but soon learned that the British commander would not permit him to hold a conference with the Indian chiefs. Nonetheless on July 6 the great council was held in Fort Detroit. It was attended by the chiefs of eleven tribes, representing nearly all the Indians from the Scioto River to Lake Superior. An envoy told the chiefs of the peace between Great Britain and the United States and announced that the Americans desired peace with the Indians also advising all the tribes to cease their warfare against the Patriots. This address had a good effect on the assembled and although they could hold no direct council with the Douglass and his entourage, they surrounded his lodging and saluted him with expressions of friendship. On the day after the council Douglass and McCully left Detroit and traveled overland, through Ontario, toward Niagara. At that British post, the British commander also would not permit Major Douglass to speak directly to the Iroquois chiefs, but on his own account he informed the chiefs of the desires of the United States for peace with all the tribes. Douglass was urged to go to Quebec and confer with the governor Canada, but he felt strongly that he had fulfilled, as far as possible, the duties of his mission. Upon his return Douglass made his report to General Lincoln. This mission of Douglass effected complete peace on the frontiers. His diplomatic efforts essentially effected the cessation of the Indian War of the Revolution on the borders of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. This most interest account is detailed in the published work EPHRAIM DOUGLAS AND HIS TIMES; A FRAGMENT OF HISTORY (Edited by Clarence C. Burton. NY, 1910) which was taken from Douglass’ journal of the adventure. Major Douglass would have, no doubt, had contact with Gen. Washington during his service as aide de camp to Gen. Lincoln. While it is possible that a sword of such quality and value may have been presented to him by Washington during the conflict, it is far more likely that Washington would have presented him with such a prize recognizing the extremely valuable service he performed in winning the loyalties of the Indian tribes for the new nation. I believe that much research is yet to be completed on these connections. This fine sword, however, has undisputed provenance to this Revolutionary War officer. PROVENANCE: From Ephraim Douglas to his descendants down thru to Mrs. Charles Miller of Topeka, Kansas. Mrs. Miller gave the sword to Mr. Ben H. Abels of the same city before she died in 1967. In Nov. of 1968, Mr. Abels sold the sword to renown American sword collector Jay Altmayer of Mobile, AL. In 1969, Mr. Altmayer sold the sword to Louis Hernandez of New Orleans. It was then sold to Joseph Bergeron of New Orleans. In 1970 it was sold to Howard T. Knapp of Slidell, LA and eventually it was acquired by our consignor. CONDITION: Sword overall is in very good condition. Silver hilt is sound and solid, unclaimed with good patina, hilt has numerous small dings, dents & scratches. There is one indiscernible touch mark at base of grip. There is a French makers mark on blade ricasso and several inches of etched floral decorations. Blade overall is gray with scattered areas of staining, rust and pitting. Blade is bent about 8″ from tip. The 2″ silver throat is loose with numerous small dents & dings, has floral and geometric engraved designed as can be seen in pictures. There is a type repair to top of scabbard holding throat in place, scabbard body as noted is only a 21″ fragment, which has shrunk and will only pull up to within a couple inches to top of blade. 4-44155 JS& CW155 (10,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2307	$0.00	HISTORIC REVOLUTIONARY WAR SILVER HILTED SMALL SWORD PURPORTEDLY PRESENTED TO OFFICER EPHRAIM DOUGLAS BY GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON. This French made sword measures just over 40″ with 33-1/2″ colichemarde blade. This is a beautiful French made sword exhibiting pierced work to pommel, cross guard and pas d’anes, and “crosshatched diamond cuts” popular circa 1770. Grip is composed of varying sizes of twisted and woven silver wire. Scabbard retains its top silver mount with only about a 20″ segment of leather scabbard body remaining. There is a small group of documents accompanying this sword detailing its history. This important and historic silver-hilted sword is accompanied by documentation of an unbroken line of provenance beginning with the Gen. Ephraim Douglass’ daughter Sarrah and thus passed through various relatives before being given outside the family in 1963 where after the owners are clearly identified through a series of accounts and letters. A newspaper article also accompanies this sword from the Topeka (Kansas) Daily from 1930. The occasion for the article was the display of the celebrated sword at a meeting of the Tokepka chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. This article was written while the sword was in the possession of Mrs. Charles Miller, the last direct descendant of General Douglass to own the sword. Although the article erroneously titles Douglass as a “General” he, in fact ended his military career as a Major in the Continental Army. The article states that this sword was presented to General Douglass by George Washington, which confirms other oral tradition promulgated by the familial descendants related directly to this silver-hilted small sword. There is a sketch of the sword presented here at the top of the article. Ephraim Douglass was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1750. Around the age of 18 he went to Fort Pitt, where he worked for a few years as a carpenter after which he engaged in the Indian trade at Pittsburg and Kittanning in partnership with Devereux Smith and Richard Butler. With the opening of hostilities in the War of Independence, Douglass became the quartermaster of the Eighth Pennsylvania regiment. He left that post to become General Benjamin Lincoln’s aide de camp and in that service was captured by the British at Bound Brook, N. J., on April 13, 1777, and for more than two years was a prisoner in New York. After his parole, and having suffered greatly in prison, he was appointed assistant commissary for the department at Fort Pitt. In the autumn of 1781 he was sent on a dangerous reconnaissance mission into the Indian country of Southern Ohio, and did not return until May, 1782. His knowledge of the Indians in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio caused General Lincoln to recommend him to the Secretary at War. Perhaps Ephraim Douglass’ most celebrated mission was to lead a party West to inform the Indian populations of the settlement with Great Britain and, thus, quell the conflicts on the Western front and gain the friendship of the Indian nations for the fledgling country. He was accompanied on his journey by Captain George McCully, who had been associated with him in the Indian trade and had also served with distinction in the Revolution, and by a wilderness guide. These three men, well mounted and carrying a white flag, left Fort Pitt on June 7, 1783, and rode to the Sandusky River, where they arrived about a week later. There they met with the leadership of the Delawares. While the Delawares were strongly in favor of peace, they declined to enter into a treaty until after Major Douglass had sought solace with the Wyandots and the Shawnees. The Shawnees had apparently been called to Detroit, to attend a great Indian council with the British commander there. Douglass, therefore, decided to go to the British fort, and on the last day of June he and McCully set out, in company with the Delawares. Douglass arrived at the British post on July 4 and had a very civil reception but soon learned that the British commander would not permit him to hold a conference with the Indian chiefs. Nonetheless on July 6 the great council was held in Fort Detroit. It was attended by the chiefs of eleven tribes, representing nearly all the Indians from the Scioto River to Lake Superior. An envoy told the chiefs of the peace between Great Britain and the United States and announced that the Americans desired peace with the Indians also advising all the tribes to cease their warfare against the Patriots. This address had a good effect on the assembled and although they could hold no direct council with the Douglass and his entourage, they surrounded his lodging and saluted him with expressions of friendship. On the day after the council Douglass and McCully left Detroit and traveled overland, through Ontario, toward Niagara. At that British post, the British commander also would not permit Major Douglass to speak directly to the Iroquois chiefs, but on his own account he informed the chiefs of the desires of the United States for peace with all the tribes. Douglass was urged to go to Quebec and confer with the governor Canada, but he felt strongly that he had fulfilled, as far as possible, the duties of his mission. Upon his return Douglass made his report to General Lincoln. This mission of Douglass effected complete peace on the frontiers. His diplomatic efforts essentially effected the cessation of the Indian War of the Revolution on the borders of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. This most interest account is detailed in the published work EPHRAIM DOUGLAS AND HIS TIMES; A FRAGMENT OF HISTORY (Edited by Clarence C. Burton. NY, 1910) which was taken from Douglass’ journal of the adventure. Major Douglass would have, no doubt, had contact with Gen. Washington during his service as aide de camp to Gen. Lincoln. While it is possible that a sword of such quality and value may have been presented to him by Washington during the conflict, it is far more likely that Washington would have presented him with such a prize recognizing the extremely valuable service he performed in winning the loyalties of the Indian tribes for the new nation. I believe that much research is yet to be completed on these connections. This fine sword, however, has undisputed provenance to this Revolutionary War officer. PROVENANCE: From Ephraim Douglas to his descendants down thru to Mrs. Charles Miller of Topeka, Kansas. Mrs. Miller gave the sword to Mr. Ben H. Abels of the same city before she died in 1967. In Nov. of 1968, Mr. Abels sold the sword to renown American sword collector Jay Altmayer of Mobile, AL. In 1969, Mr. Altmayer sold the sword to Louis Hernandez of New Orleans. It was then sold to Joseph Bergeron of New Orleans. In 1970 it was sold to Howard T. Knapp of Slidell, LA and eventually it was acquired by our consignor. CONDITION: Sword overall is in very good condition. Silver hilt is sound and solid, unclaimed with good patina, hilt has numerous small dings, dents & scratches. There is one indiscernible touch mark at base of grip. There is a French makers mark on blade ricasso and several inches of etched floral decorations. Blade overall is gray with scattered areas of staining, rust and pitting. Blade is bent about 8″ from tip. The 2″ silver throat is loose with numerous small dents & dings, has floral and geometric engraved designed as can be seen in pictures. There is a type repair to top of scabbard holding throat in place, scabbard body as noted is only a 21″ fragment, which has shrunk and will only pull up to within a couple inches to top of blade. 4-44155 JS& CW155 (10,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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