HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE GENERAL OFFICER’S SWORD BELT AND PLATE OF MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC RIDGEWAY TRIMBLE.

HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE GENERAL OFFICER’S SWORD BELT AND PLATE OF MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC RIDGEWAY TRIMBLE. A most historic offering. We know of only one other documented Confederate General officer’s sword belt to be offered to the public in recent memory. The belt is of brown Russian leather decorated with 3 lines of gilt wire embroidery across the entire face of the waist belt. The fine Russian leather is folded and stitched over a leather and canvas body and sewn on the inside of the belt. Orig to the belt and attached is a magnificent and rare 2-pc MD. state seal belt plate of the highest quality. The belt plate is of cast brass, gold-plated, of 2-pcs in tongue and wreath style, the circular center being a die stamped brass and gold-plated finely detailed depiction of the MD. state coat of arms. The sword hangers are missing. Toward the back of the belt, in period ink, is signed “Major General Isaac Ridgeway Trimble,” which when compared to Civil War period documents containing his signature, this appears to be in the General’s own hand. Also accompanied by letter of authentication from one of the foremost authorities on Confederate buckles, Steve Mullinax. CONDITION: Good. Belt has obviously seen wear but is in very good condition with edge scuffing, slight losses of stitching here and there, and minor fraying to the gold embroidered decoration. Tongue and die stamped center of the 2-pc belt plate has turned a medium green color (verdigris) as opposed to the remainder of the belt plate which retains much of its orig gold wash. Belt and belt plate have been examined by noted Confederate expert Steve Mullinax, who reports “This 2-pc Maryland state seal buckle is on its orig. belt. The cast buckle is 83mm in length with a 54mm gold-gilded brass dye stamp tongue. It is on a 42mm width regulation leather General’s belt with silver-gilt thread making the linear design. The provenance is unquestionable. General Trimble’s name is written in ink on the backside of the belt. It is my considered opinion that Gen. Isaac Trimble’s 2-pc Maryland buckle and belt is of orig. pre-war manufacture, but used by Gen.. Trimble during his Confederate military career in the American Civil War, 1861-1865”. Isaac Ridgeway Trimble was an old man at the beginning of the Civil War, being born in Culpeper, VA. in 1802. He graduated from West Point in 1822 and served as an officer in the Ordnance Corps. and as a “Topographical Engineer” until 1832. He spent the next 29 years of his life as the Chief Engineer and Superintendent for a number of railroads in the Mid-Atlantic region and in the south. He adopted MD. as his home and the Confederacy as his cause. With the opening of hostilities, he operated with local MD. militia units to burn railroad bridges north of Baltimore, thus impeding the progress of troops descending on Washington, D.C. through MD. in response to Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 call for 75,000 volunteers. On August 9, 1861, he was appointed Brig. Gen. of the Confederate States Army and was given brigade command in Ewell’s division. Gen. Trimble proved himself to be a capable commander, particularly in the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and battles at Cedar Mountain and during the Seven Days Campaign. He was severely wounded at Second Bull Run, which caused him to spend nearly a year in recuperation. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson commented on Trimble following this engagement, stating “After a day’s march of over 30 miles he ordered his command…to charge the enemy’s position at Manassas Junction. This charge resulted in the capture of a number of prisoners and 8 pieces of Artillery. I regard that day’s achievement as the most brilliant that has ever come under my observation during the present war”. He served as a commander and aide to Ewell on the first day of Gettysburg and then was assigned to command a division and troops in Picket Charge. He was wounded and captured at Gettysburg. His leg was amputated in a field hospital on the battlefield, and he became a prisoner of war until his exchange in February 1865. While a prisoner, he was promoted to Maj. Gen. to rank from January 17, 1863. In the post-Civil War years, he retired to Baltimore, working as a consulting engineer. He died on January 25, 1888. This offering presents only the second time in recent memory when a notable Confederate Gen. officer’s sword belt has been offered at public sale. Included is a post-war document with Trimble’s signature and a notarized letter of provenance. Trimble’s General Officer’s kepi and yellow silk sash are in the collection of the Maryland Historical Society. Rare indeed, this belt represents the height of finery for a Maryland Confederate officer. 4-57095 (40,000-60,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	3134	$0.00	HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE GENERAL OFFICER’S SWORD BELT AND PLATE OF MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC RIDGEWAY TRIMBLE. A most historic offering. We know of only one other documented Confederate General officer’s sword belt to be offered to the public in recent memory. The belt is of brown Russian leather decorated with 3 lines of gilt wire embroidery across the entire face of the waist belt. The fine Russian leather is folded and stitched over a leather and canvas body and sewn on the inside of the belt. Orig to the belt and attached is a magnificent and rare 2-pc MD. state seal belt plate of the highest quality. The belt plate is of cast brass, gold-plated, of 2-pcs in tongue and wreath style, the circular center being a die stamped brass and gold-plated finely detailed depiction of the MD. state coat of arms. The sword hangers are missing. Toward the back of the belt, in period ink, is signed “Major General Isaac Ridgeway Trimble,” which when compared to Civil War period documents containing his signature, this appears to be in the General’s own hand. Also accompanied by letter of authentication from one of the foremost authorities on Confederate buckles, Steve Mullinax. CONDITION: Good. Belt has obviously seen wear but is in very good condition with edge scuffing, slight losses of stitching here and there, and minor fraying to the gold embroidered decoration. Tongue and die stamped center of the 2-pc belt plate has turned a medium green color (verdigris) as opposed to the remainder of the belt plate which retains much of its orig gold wash. Belt and belt plate have been examined by noted Confederate expert Steve Mullinax, who reports “This 2-pc Maryland state seal buckle is on its orig. belt. The cast buckle is 83mm in length with a 54mm gold-gilded brass dye stamp tongue. It is on a 42mm width regulation leather General’s belt with silver-gilt thread making the linear design. The provenance is unquestionable. General Trimble’s name is written in ink on the backside of the belt. It is my considered opinion that Gen. Isaac Trimble’s 2-pc Maryland buckle and belt is of orig. pre-war manufacture, but used by Gen.. Trimble during his Confederate military career in the American Civil War, 1861-1865”. Isaac Ridgeway Trimble was an old man at the beginning of the Civil War, being born in Culpeper, VA. in 1802. He graduated from West Point in 1822 and served as an officer in the Ordnance Corps. and as a “Topographical Engineer” until 1832. He spent the next 29 years of his life as the Chief Engineer and Superintendent for a number of railroads in the Mid-Atlantic region and in the south. He adopted MD. as his home and the Confederacy as his cause. With the opening of hostilities, he operated with local MD. militia units to burn railroad bridges north of Baltimore, thus impeding the progress of troops descending on Washington, D.C. through MD. in response to Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 call for 75,000 volunteers. On August 9, 1861, he was appointed Brig. Gen. of the Confederate States Army and was given brigade command in Ewell’s division. Gen. Trimble proved himself to be a capable commander, particularly in the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and battles at Cedar Mountain and during the Seven Days Campaign. He was severely wounded at Second Bull Run, which caused him to spend nearly a year in recuperation. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson commented on Trimble following this engagement, stating “After a day’s march of over 30 miles he ordered his command…to charge the enemy’s position at Manassas Junction. This charge resulted in the capture of a number of prisoners and 8 pieces of Artillery. I regard that day’s achievement as the most brilliant that has ever come under my observation during the present war”. He served as a commander and aide to Ewell on the first day of Gettysburg and then was assigned to command a division and troops in Picket Charge. He was wounded and captured at Gettysburg. His leg was amputated in a field hospital on the battlefield, and he became a prisoner of war until his exchange in February 1865. While a prisoner, he was promoted to Maj. Gen. to rank from January 17, 1863. In the post-Civil War years, he retired to Baltimore, working as a consulting engineer. He died on January 25, 1888. This offering presents only the second time in recent memory when a notable Confederate Gen. officer’s sword belt has been offered at public sale. Included is a post-war document with Trimble’s signature and a notarized letter of provenance. Trimble’s General Officer’s kepi and yellow silk sash are in the collection of the Maryland Historical Society. Rare indeed, this belt represents the height of finery for a Maryland Confederate officer. 4-57095 (40,000-60,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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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