IMPORTANT HISTORICAL LOT OF TWO SWORDS PRESENTED TO MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.

IMPORTANT HISTORICAL LOT OF TWO SWORDS PRESENTED TO MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. The following two presentation swords, offered together, represent an important and rare opportunity to own Civil War period general officer’s swords belonging to Major General William Schouler (1814-1872) of Massachusetts. General Schouler was a Scottish born politician, editor and historian who was appointed Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the eve of the American Civil War. Prior to the war Schouler served in the Massachusetts legislature and was editor of the Lowell Courier and Journal and the Boston Globe. It was he who mustered the initial troops in the Spring of 1861, who were among the first to respond to Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers to preserve the Union. It is reported that he notified President Lincoln of the loss of five sons of a Massachusetts woman to whom Lincoln was purported to have written a masterfully consoling sympathy letter: To: Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass. November 21, 1864 Dear Madam, I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be your to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, A. Lincoln General Schouler is said to have delivered this letter from President Lincoln to Mrs. Bixby personally. Following the Civil War, Schouler distinguished himself as an able historian writing the landmark work A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War. (1868). General Schouler died in 1872 and is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Boston. The first is a UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT CASED PRESENTATION SWORD AND ACCOUTERMENTS PRESENTED TO MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR BY THE SWORD MAKER C. ROBY. A presentation sword of very high quality to Major General William Schouler. The sword is a militia officer’s type, very delicate in high style and obviously custom made. The blade is extremely narrow measuring 6/8″ at the ricasso and 30.5″ long. Etched decorations cover 70% of the blade with American shields, and eagle, “US”, military trophies and floral sprays. Within a panel on one side of the blade is the inscription Adj’t Gen., William Schouler. On the opposite side of the blade within a similar panel is the presentation From his friend C. Roby. Both inscriptions are etched in old English script. Schouler and sword contractor C. Roby of West Chelmsford, Massachusetts were obviously friends. Presentations to military officers from sword makers are extremely rare. The cross guard is of silver plated brass with an oval down turned counterguard having an open work wreath surmounted by two five-point stars (Major General). The rear counterguard is a stylized American shield with Masonic symbols engraved. The crossguard terminated with two “Y” shaped quillons bound with laurel leaf clusters. The grip is of ivory shaped in octagonal panels. The pommel is a knight’s head with a double chain guard. The scabbard is of brass with engraved furniture. The top mount with two carrying rings has an engraved depiction of the Massachusetts State Seal. The middle mount is engraved with thistles (relating to Schouler’s Scottish heritage). The bottom of the scabbard is engraved with oak leaves and terminates in an acorn finial. CONDITION: Very good. The sword is uncleaned and in untouched condition. The blade is bright with frosty etching, the hilt is tarnished. The grip is strong but the ivory shows age cracks. The scabbard retains only traces of its original gold wash but shows no dents or other severe wear. The second is a HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT U.S. MODEL 1840 GENERAL OFFICER’S SWORD INSCRIBED TO GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR TOGETHER W/CDV SHOWING THIS VERY SWORD. This sword is a regulation U.S. Model 1840 General Officer’s Sword of the type offered by Wm. H. Horstmann, a rarity in itself. The sword has a straight double edged blade with a central fuller measuring 33″ long. A stamped Solingen, German maker’s mark is on the ricasso. Over 60% of the blade is decorated with etched floral sprays, an American eagle and stars, and “US” in a star lined rectangular panel. The counterguard is a double clamshell pattern with the reverse side being hinged. The quillon has a cast foliated decoration. The grip is also cast brass giving the appearance of wire wrap. The urn shaped pommel is decorated with an Acanthus leaf pattern having a “D” shaped single bow knuckle guard the scabbard is of brass with engraved patterns, an American eagle and shield between the mounts. There are two carrying rings and a frog stud on the top mount and a single carrying ring on the middle mount. The front clamshell counterguard is engraved: Presented to/GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER/Adjutant General of Massachusetts,/BY HIS FRIENDS/Boston, May, 1860. A period C.D.V. of Gen. Schouler cradling this very sword in his arm accompanies this lot. CONDITION: Very good. The sword is in uncleaned attic condition having a dark patina overall. The blade retains much brightness and frosty etching with some discoloration and dark spots here and there. The hilt is very strong and the scabbard very nice with only a couple of minor dents to the backside. An extremely important and historic state General Officer’s sword. 8-87164, 8-87165 (25,000-35,000)

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
	3299A.	$11,500.00	IMPORTANT HISTORICAL LOT OF TWO SWORDS PRESENTED TO MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. The following two presentation swords, offered together, represent an important and rare opportunity to own Civil War period general officer’s swords belonging to Major General William Schouler (1814-1872) of Massachusetts. General Schouler was a Scottish born politician, editor and historian who was appointed Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the eve of the American Civil War. Prior to the war Schouler served in the Massachusetts legislature and was editor of the Lowell Courier and Journal and the Boston Globe. It was he who mustered the initial troops in the Spring of 1861, who were among the first to respond to Lincoln’s call for 75,000 volunteers to preserve the Union. It is reported that he notified President Lincoln of the loss of five sons of a Massachusetts woman to whom Lincoln was purported to have written a masterfully consoling sympathy letter: To: Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass. November 21, 1864 Dear Madam, I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be your to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Yours very sincerely and respectfully, A. Lincoln General Schouler is said to have delivered this letter from President Lincoln to Mrs. Bixby personally. Following the Civil War, Schouler distinguished himself as an able historian writing the landmark work A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War. (1868). General Schouler died in 1872 and is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, Boston. The first is a UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT CASED PRESENTATION SWORD AND ACCOUTERMENTS PRESENTED TO MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR BY THE SWORD MAKER C. ROBY. A presentation sword of very high quality to Major General William Schouler. The sword is a militia officer’s type, very delicate in high style and obviously custom made. The blade is extremely narrow measuring 6/8″ at the ricasso and 30.5″ long. Etched decorations cover 70% of the blade with American shields, and eagle, “US”, military trophies and floral sprays. Within a panel on one side of the blade is the inscription Adj’t Gen., William Schouler. On the opposite side of the blade within a similar panel is the presentation From his friend C. Roby. Both inscriptions are etched in old English script. Schouler and sword contractor C. Roby of West Chelmsford, Massachusetts were obviously friends. Presentations to military officers from sword makers are extremely rare. The cross guard is of silver plated brass with an oval down turned counterguard having an open work wreath surmounted by two five-point stars (Major General). The rear counterguard is a stylized American shield with Masonic symbols engraved. The crossguard terminated with two “Y” shaped quillons bound with laurel leaf clusters. The grip is of ivory shaped in octagonal panels. The pommel is a knight’s head with a double chain guard. The scabbard is of brass with engraved furniture. The top mount with two carrying rings has an engraved depiction of the Massachusetts State Seal. The middle mount is engraved with thistles (relating to Schouler’s Scottish heritage). The bottom of the scabbard is engraved with oak leaves and terminates in an acorn finial. CONDITION: Very good. The sword is uncleaned and in untouched condition. The blade is bright with frosty etching, the hilt is tarnished. The grip is strong but the ivory shows age cracks. The scabbard retains only traces of its original gold wash but shows no dents or other severe wear. The second is a HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT U.S. MODEL 1840 GENERAL OFFICER’S SWORD INSCRIBED TO GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR TOGETHER W/CDV SHOWING THIS VERY SWORD. This sword is a regulation U.S. Model 1840 General Officer’s Sword of the type offered by Wm. H. Horstmann, a rarity in itself. The sword has a straight double edged blade with a central fuller measuring 33″ long. A stamped Solingen, German maker’s mark is on the ricasso. Over 60% of the blade is decorated with etched floral sprays, an American eagle and stars, and “US” in a star lined rectangular panel. The counterguard is a double clamshell pattern with the reverse side being hinged. The quillon has a cast foliated decoration. The grip is also cast brass giving the appearance of wire wrap. The urn shaped pommel is decorated with an Acanthus leaf pattern having a “D” shaped single bow knuckle guard the scabbard is of brass with engraved patterns, an American eagle and shield between the mounts. There are two carrying rings and a frog stud on the top mount and a single carrying ring on the middle mount. The front clamshell counterguard is engraved: Presented to/GENERAL WILLIAM SCHOULER/Adjutant General of Massachusetts,/BY HIS FRIENDS/Boston, May, 1860. A period C.D.V. of Gen. Schouler cradling this very sword in his arm accompanies this lot. CONDITION: Very good. The sword is in uncleaned attic condition having a dark patina overall. The blade retains much brightness and frosty etching with some discoloration and dark spots here and there. The hilt is very strong and the scabbard very nice with only a couple of minor dents to the backside. An extremely important and historic state General Officer’s sword. 8-87164, 8-87165 (25,000-35,000) 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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