INSCRIBED LIBERTY STATUE HILT PRESENTATION SWORD TO A GALLANT NEW JERSEY CIVIL WAR OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION.

INSCRIBED LIBERTY STATUE HILT PRESENTATION SWORD TO A GALLANT NEW JERSEY CIVIL WAR OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION. You are bidding on a wonderful high-grade presentation statue hilt of the best grade. Unusual feature of the sword is the statue grip being two-tone; the body of the ancient warrior or gladiator being silver and his helmet, shield and fleece robe being gilt. The 32” blade is profusely etched and decorated with patriotic and floral designs highlighted with gold background. This silver-plated scabbard is mounted with large floral mounts of the highest quality. The rococo decorated hilt terminates in the open mouth of a vicious wolf. The presentation from his men reads as follows: “Presented to/ Capt. G. W. Harrison/ Co. H. 39th Regt. N.Y. Vols./Octr. 10th, 1864”. Capt. George W. Harrison, served in both the 26th Regt. NJ Vol. Inf. and the 39th NJ Vol. Inf. during the American Civil War. He was mustered into the 26th Regt as commander of Co. G on Sept. 18, 1862. Serving out his term of appointment and then re-entered the service as commander of Co. H, 39th NJ Vol. Inf. being commissioned on Sept. 20, 1864, and mustering into the unit on Sept. 26th. The records of the regiment state that he was killed in action before Petersburg, Va. on April 2, 1865. This magnificent presentation sword is a testament to Capt. G.W. Harrison’s leadership and friendship. Presentations from enlisted men to their former commanders, as that commander accepted a new position in another unit, is quite unique. Captain Harrison served with distinction in the 26th N.J., a hard fought unit. The 26th NJ Vol. Inf.was organized at Camp Frelinghuysen, Newark, N.J., and mustered in Sept. 18, 1862. The regiment left for Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 1862 and camped on Capital Hill until Oc. 1. Thereafter it marched to Frederick, Md. and on to Hagerstown arriving on Oct. 11. This regiment was attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. They remained at Hagerstown, Md. until Oct. 31, 1862 and were moved to Falmouth, Va., arriving Nov. 19th. They fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 12-15 1862., then returned to camp at Falmouth, Va. The 26th participated in the “Mud March” Jan. 20-24, 1863, the Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6, and Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2nd. Returning to Fredericksburg, they fought in the Battle of Maryes Heights, then Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4th and Franklin’s Crossing June 5-13. Nearing the end of their term of service they marched back to Washington, D.C. arriving June 17th. The regiment mustered out at Newark, N.J., June 27, 1863 logging 36 casualties. The 39th NJ Vol. Inf. was a late Civil War inf. regt when Capt. Harrison decided to re-enter military service. It was one of three units to be raised after President Abraham Lincoln called for five hundred thousand more men in July 1864 to end the war with the Confederacy. West Point graduate and Regular Army officer Abram C. Wildrick was appointed Col. and commander of the 39th NJ, and James H. Close, a veteran officer who served in the 2nd NJ Vol. Inf, became the regiment’s Lt. Col. Because the unit was being organized late in the war, enlistees became hard to find. To attract more enrollees, bounties became higher then usual, yet by early Oct. 1864, only five companies had been organized. On Oct. 4, those five companies left the state for the front. By Oct. 21, the remainder of the regiment joined them, and the united unit had a total strength at about one thousand men. Through the next five months, the men of the 39th NJ experienced hard service in the trenches around Petersburg, Va. However, it wasn’t until April 2, 1865, when the men of the 39th NJ fought their first actual pitched battle. In that pitched battle, Harrison lost his life. The 39th NJ, in the lead of four other veteran regiments that charged forward at Petersburg that day, suffered heavy losses in the assault. At the end of the battle, the regiment suffered 17 killed and 74 wounded, a total of 91 casualties. April 2, 1865 was the defining moment during the months long Siege of Petersburg, Va. Grant was invigorated by the success of the Federal attack at Five Forks on the 1st. He sent out new orders for a general assault against the Confederate entrenchments on April 2. Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright’s VI Corps was chosen to spearhead the attack. Members of the corps had detected a vulnerable point along the Confederate lines, and senior Union officers, including Wright and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, examined the area several times. They observed that a swamp, fed by a number of tributaries, caused breaks in the Confederate lines. One of the ravines was only 50 or 60 feet wide at the place where it intersected the Confederate lines, but it extended into a flat marsh nearer the Union picket lines. The swampy ground prevented the Confederates from building fortifications across the depression. Instead they placed artillery on either side of it. Throughout the winter, McGowan’s infantry was posted along this section of the line. Lane’s Brigade of North Carolinians had replaced McGowan only days prior to the planned April 2 Federal assault. Orders went out to the VI Corps: ‘You will assault the enemy’s works in your front at 4 a.m. to-morrow morning.’ Maj. Gen. George W. Getty’s division was assigned to lead the attack. His right was supported by the division of Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton and his left by the division of Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour. The regiments in each brigade, including the 39th New Jersey were stacked behind one another, providing a line that was narrow at the front but great in depth. Wright’s assaulting force consisted of some 14,000 soldiers. Officers were instructed to leave their horses behind, and the men in the leading ranks were to leave the priming caps off their muskets, relying on bayonets only. One brigade commander told his line officers: ‘We are going to have a hell of a fight at early daylight…. I want you fellows to simply tell your first sergeant to have the men fall in ready to march…at 1 o’clock a.m. Now you can go to your quarters and if any of you have anything to say to your folks, wives or sweethearts make your story short and get what sleep you can for hell will be tapped in the morning.’ Federal artillery opened fire at 10 p.m. on the opposing entrenchments. One Confederate general recalled ‘an almost incessant cannonade, solid shot and shell whizzing through the air and bursting in every direction, at times equal in brilliancy to a vivid meteoric display.’ General Grant hoped the shelling would convince the Rebels to abandon their fortifications, but the Confederates returned the fire. As positioning began, accompanying the infantry were three batteries of artillery, one for each division, along with a group of 20 volunteer artillerymen that hoped to turn captured Rebel guns on their former owners. The Confederate task of guarding the area around the swamp fell to James Lane’s North Carolina Brigade. Several artillery emplacements strengthened the Confederate line, but Lane’s four regiments probably numbered no more than 1,100 men. His fifth regiment, the 7th North Carolina, had recently been detached and sent to its home state. The Federals waited in the darkness. The attack was slated to begin at 4 a.m., however, the darkness caused General Wright to postpone the assault until 4:40 a.m. At that moment in the dim break of daylight the attack stepped off. Across the long darkened field Federal soldiers poured into the fortifications and fought hand to hand with the Confederates. Once inside the fortifications the Federals began to spread out in all directions and they established a new line perpendicular to the Confederate fortifications. At the end of the bloody assault, a handful of surviving members of the 37th North Carolina, along with other soldiers and officers of Lane’s and Thomas’ brigades, retreated into Forts Gregg and Whitworth. There, they held the Federals at bay long enough for Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s corps to stabilize the lines and allow the Confederates an orderly withdrawal during the evening hours. Thirty minutes passed from the time the assault began before General Wright reported to Meade that his corps had ‘carried the works in front and to the left of the Jones house.’ Meade sent a congratulatory reply to Wright and shared the good tidings with Grant, who passed them on to Abraham Lincoln. General Grant referred to the action among ‘the brightest day[s] in the history of the war.’ Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia were forced to abandon Petersburg and Richmond on the night of April 2, and just a few days later surrendered at Appomattox Court House. Other Confederate armies were also forced to capitulate over the next few weeks, and the war, after four long years, ended. The regiment was mustered out on June 17, 1865, with 819 men. On April 2, 1865, Col. Wildrick received a brevet rank of brigadier general in the Regular Army for his leadership PROVENANCE: Ex-Norm Flaydermann Collection. Pictured on pg. 344 of “Steel Canvas” by R.L. Wilson, 1995. CONDITION: Blade retains most of its orig luster and gold in etched panels. Gilting on ricasso is lacking especially on the reverse of the Clauberg marking. Hilt retains about 80% of its orig gilting, figure in statue retains about 70% of its orig silver and 60-70% orig gilt on shield and fleece. There is a small hole in front of statue’s helmet which may have contained another small device that may be missing now. The scabbard body has lost about half of its orig silver-plating, scabbard mounts retain about 60% of their orig gilt, the scabbard drag is missing its retaining screw. 4-37751 CW2 (25,000-35,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2378	$28,175.00	INSCRIBED LIBERTY STATUE HILT PRESENTATION SWORD TO A GALLANT NEW JERSEY CIVIL WAR OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION. You are bidding on a wonderful high-grade presentation statue hilt of the best grade. Unusual feature of the sword is the statue grip being two-tone; the body of the ancient warrior or gladiator being silver and his helmet, shield and fleece robe being gilt. The 32” blade is profusely etched and decorated with patriotic and floral designs highlighted with gold background. This silver-plated scabbard is mounted with large floral mounts of the highest quality. The rococo decorated hilt terminates in the open mouth of a vicious wolf. The presentation from his men reads as follows: “Presented to/ Capt. G. W. Harrison/ Co. H. 39th Regt. N.Y. Vols./Octr. 10th, 1864”. Capt. George W. Harrison, served in both the 26th Regt. NJ Vol. Inf. and the 39th NJ Vol. Inf. during the American Civil War. He was mustered into the 26th Regt as commander of Co. G on Sept. 18, 1862. Serving out his term of appointment and then re-entered the service as commander of Co. H, 39th NJ Vol. Inf. being commissioned on Sept. 20, 1864, and mustering into the unit on Sept. 26th. The records of the regiment state that he was killed in action before Petersburg, Va. on April 2, 1865. This magnificent presentation sword is a testament to Capt. G.W. Harrison’s leadership and friendship. Presentations from enlisted men to their former commanders, as that commander accepted a new position in another unit, is quite unique. Captain Harrison served with distinction in the 26th N.J., a hard fought unit. The 26th NJ Vol. Inf.was organized at Camp Frelinghuysen, Newark, N.J., and mustered in Sept. 18, 1862. The regiment left for Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 1862 and camped on Capital Hill until Oc. 1. Thereafter it marched to Frederick, Md. and on to Hagerstown arriving on Oct. 11. This regiment was attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. They remained at Hagerstown, Md. until Oct. 31, 1862 and were moved to Falmouth, Va., arriving Nov. 19th. They fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 12-15 1862., then returned to camp at Falmouth, Va. The 26th participated in the “Mud March” Jan. 20-24, 1863, the Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6, and Franklin’s Crossing April 29-May 2nd. Returning to Fredericksburg, they fought in the Battle of Maryes Heights, then Salem Heights May 3-4. Banks’ Ford May 4th and Franklin’s Crossing June 5-13. Nearing the end of their term of service they marched back to Washington, D.C. arriving June 17th. The regiment mustered out at Newark, N.J., June 27, 1863 logging 36 casualties. The 39th NJ Vol. Inf. was a late Civil War inf. regt when Capt. Harrison decided to re-enter military service. It was one of three units to be raised after President Abraham Lincoln called for five hundred thousand more men in July 1864 to end the war with the Confederacy. West Point graduate and Regular Army officer Abram C. Wildrick was appointed Col. and commander of the 39th NJ, and James H. Close, a veteran officer who served in the 2nd NJ Vol. Inf, became the regiment’s Lt. Col. Because the unit was being organized late in the war, enlistees became hard to find. To attract more enrollees, bounties became higher then usual, yet by early Oct. 1864, only five companies had been organized. On Oct. 4, those five companies left the state for the front. By Oct. 21, the remainder of the regiment joined them, and the united unit had a total strength at about one thousand men. Through the next five months, the men of the 39th NJ experienced hard service in the trenches around Petersburg, Va. However, it wasn’t until April 2, 1865, when the men of the 39th NJ fought their first actual pitched battle. In that pitched battle, Harrison lost his life. The 39th NJ, in the lead of four other veteran regiments that charged forward at Petersburg that day, suffered heavy losses in the assault. At the end of the battle, the regiment suffered 17 killed and 74 wounded, a total of 91 casualties. April 2, 1865 was the defining moment during the months long Siege of Petersburg, Va. Grant was invigorated by the success of the Federal attack at Five Forks on the 1st. He sent out new orders for a general assault against the Confederate entrenchments on April 2. Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright’s VI Corps was chosen to spearhead the attack. Members of the corps had detected a vulnerable point along the Confederate lines, and senior Union officers, including Wright and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, examined the area several times. They observed that a swamp, fed by a number of tributaries, caused breaks in the Confederate lines. One of the ravines was only 50 or 60 feet wide at the place where it intersected the Confederate lines, but it extended into a flat marsh nearer the Union picket lines. The swampy ground prevented the Confederates from building fortifications across the depression. Instead they placed artillery on either side of it. Throughout the winter, McGowan’s infantry was posted along this section of the line. Lane’s Brigade of North Carolinians had replaced McGowan only days prior to the planned April 2 Federal assault. Orders went out to the VI Corps: ‘You will assault the enemy’s works in your front at 4 a.m. to-morrow morning.’ Maj. Gen. George W. Getty’s division was assigned to lead the attack. His right was supported by the division of Brig. Gen. Frank Wheaton and his left by the division of Brig. Gen. Truman Seymour. The regiments in each brigade, including the 39th New Jersey were stacked behind one another, providing a line that was narrow at the front but great in depth. Wright’s assaulting force consisted of some 14,000 soldiers. Officers were instructed to leave their horses behind, and the men in the leading ranks were to leave the priming caps off their muskets, relying on bayonets only. One brigade commander told his line officers: ‘We are going to have a hell of a fight at early daylight…. I want you fellows to simply tell your first sergeant to have the men fall in ready to march…at 1 o’clock a.m. Now you can go to your quarters and if any of you have anything to say to your folks, wives or sweethearts make your story short and get what sleep you can for hell will be tapped in the morning.’ Federal artillery opened fire at 10 p.m. on the opposing entrenchments. One Confederate general recalled ‘an almost incessant cannonade, solid shot and shell whizzing through the air and bursting in every direction, at times equal in brilliancy to a vivid meteoric display.’ General Grant hoped the shelling would convince the Rebels to abandon their fortifications, but the Confederates returned the fire. As positioning began, accompanying the infantry were three batteries of artillery, one for each division, along with a group of 20 volunteer artillerymen that hoped to turn captured Rebel guns on their former owners. The Confederate task of guarding the area around the swamp fell to James Lane’s North Carolina Brigade. Several artillery emplacements strengthened the Confederate line, but Lane’s four regiments probably numbered no more than 1,100 men. His fifth regiment, the 7th North Carolina, had recently been detached and sent to its home state. The Federals waited in the darkness. The attack was slated to begin at 4 a.m., however, the darkness caused General Wright to postpone the assault until 4:40 a.m. At that moment in the dim break of daylight the attack stepped off. Across the long darkened field Federal soldiers poured into the fortifications and fought hand to hand with the Confederates. Once inside the fortifications the Federals began to spread out in all directions and they established a new line perpendicular to the Confederate fortifications. At the end of the bloody assault, a handful of surviving members of the 37th North Carolina, along with other soldiers and officers of Lane’s and Thomas’ brigades, retreated into Forts Gregg and Whitworth. There, they held the Federals at bay long enough for Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s corps to stabilize the lines and allow the Confederates an orderly withdrawal during the evening hours. Thirty minutes passed from the time the assault began before General Wright reported to Meade that his corps had ‘carried the works in front and to the left of the Jones house.’ Meade sent a congratulatory reply to Wright and shared the good tidings with Grant, who passed them on to Abraham Lincoln. General Grant referred to the action among ‘the brightest day[s] in the history of the war.’ Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia were forced to abandon Petersburg and Richmond on the night of April 2, and just a few days later surrendered at Appomattox Court House. Other Confederate armies were also forced to capitulate over the next few weeks, and the war, after four long years, ended. The regiment was mustered out on June 17, 1865, with 819 men. On April 2, 1865, Col. Wildrick received a brevet rank of brigadier general in the Regular Army for his leadership PROVENANCE: Ex-Norm Flaydermann Collection. Pictured on pg. 344 of “Steel Canvas” by R.L. Wilson, 1995. CONDITION: Blade retains most of its orig luster and gold in etched panels. Gilting on ricasso is lacking especially on the reverse of the Clauberg marking. Hilt retains about 80% of its orig gilting, figure in statue retains about 70% of its orig silver and 60-70% orig gilt on shield and fleece. There is a small hole in front of statue’s helmet which may have contained another small device that may be missing now. The scabbard body has lost about half of its orig silver-plating, scabbard mounts retain about 60% of their orig gilt, the scabbard drag is missing its retaining screw. 4-37751 CW2 (25,000-35,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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