INSCRIBED US MODEL 1850 FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD WITH BATTLE INSCRIPTIONS 9TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

INSCRIBED US MODEL 1850 FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD WITH BATTLE INSCRIPTIONS 9TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. This sword represents the wartime battlefield sword of Lt. Hamilton Lieber, who was the son of Francis Lieber, a democratic hero who defined the rights of POW’s resulting in President Lincoln issuing a proclamation since known as the “Lieber Code,” which was ultimately a prototype for the Geneva Conventions. The sword is a regulation Model 1850, foot officer’s sword having a 31-1/2” lightly curved sgl edged blade with etched decoration across 60% of both sides. The blade has a European makers mark on one side of the ricasso & is etched “W.H. Horstmann & Sons Philadelphia” on the opposite side. The etched decoration includes floral scrolls, an American shield & eagle, stands of flags & arms, & “U.S.” The hilt is regulation style of cast brass with floral open work & a cast brass pommel atop a grip made of wood with sharkskin wrap & triple strands of brass wire. At the base of the grip at the front of the knuckle bow is a leather finger loop. The hilt is secured to the base of the grip with a small square slotted setscrew. Scabbard is of leather with a tooled line edge decoration with plan sheet brass mounts. Hand engraved on the front of the top scabbard mount is “Hamilton Lieber.” Engraved around the top of the counter guard on the sword’s hilt are the battle citations “Saratoga KY., Oct. 22, 1861, Fort Donelson, TNN. Feb. 15, 1862/New York Riot July 13, 1863, Whitehouse Landing, VA, June 20, 1864”. Hamilton Lieber enlisted in the 9th Regiment Ill. Inf. (3 months) in April 1861 & was appointed 2nd Lt. of Co. C. This three-month regiment did garrison duty in Cairo, Ill. & then participated in the expedition from Cairo to Little River & was mustered out on July 26, 1861. Lieber then reenlisted & was appointed 1st Lt. of Co. B 9th Ill. Regiment Inf. for a three-year term. The regiment did their duty mostly in the western theater, participating in the following battles: Fort Henry, Saratoga, Fort Donelson, where Lieber lost an arm in battle, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Corinth, operations in Mississippi & Alabama, New York Draft Riots, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Dalton, Resaca, Kenensaw Mountain, Savannah, Edisto River, & the unit was present at the surrender of Confederate Gen. Johnston in NC. They participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. Hamilton Lieber’s father, Francis Lieber, developed the code during his own youthful battlefield experiences. He fought with the German Regiment in Waterloo in 1815. Coming to America, he studied early European & American political science, was the inspiration for the publication of the Encyclopedia Americana. He became a prolific political philosopher who promoted prison reform, teaching at SC College & Columbia College in NY. Two of his sons, Norman & Hamilton (the owner of the sword described here), fought for the union & his eldest son, Oscar, joined the Confederate army & was killed in action at the Battle of Williamsburg. Lieber was a staunch Lincoln supporter during the 1860 presidential campaign & was asked by General Henry W. Halleck to provide advice on the legal status of pro-Confederate guerillas. Lieber offered his views in a 16-pg essay that Halleck immediately distributed to his officers. Lieber’s theories on the treatment of guerillas & POW’s, including irregulars & civilians, ultimately urged president Abraham Lincoln to issue General Order 100 on April 24, 1863, defining the treatment in various categories of fighting forces & prisoners. Known since in political science & legal circles as the “Lieber Code,” the Europeans were very impressed with the General Order & it became the prototype for the various Geneva Conventions. In addition to the treatment of persons, the “Lieber Code” also dealt with an adversary’s cultural property, & sought to define licit & illicit spoils of war for the first time. CONDITION: Very good. Blade has been cleaned & shows evidence of light sharpening. Etching is deep & strong with areas of dark staining & light pitting on one side. Hilt is fine, shows wear. Grip is tight but is worn near the sharkskin seam. Scabbard leather is flexible with minor surface losses. 4-57276 (5,000-7,500)

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
	3311	$5,750.00	INSCRIBED US MODEL 1850 FOOT OFFICER’S SWORD WITH BATTLE INSCRIPTIONS 9TH ILLINOIS INFANTRY. This sword represents the wartime battlefield sword of Lt. Hamilton Lieber, who was the son of Francis Lieber, a democratic hero who defined the rights of POW’s resulting in President Lincoln issuing a proclamation since known as the “Lieber Code,” which was ultimately a prototype for the Geneva Conventions. The sword is a regulation Model 1850, foot officer’s sword having a 31-1/2” lightly curved sgl edged blade with etched decoration across 60% of both sides. The blade has a European makers mark on one side of the ricasso & is etched “W.H. Horstmann & Sons Philadelphia” on the opposite side. The etched decoration includes floral scrolls, an American shield & eagle, stands of flags & arms, & “U.S.” The hilt is regulation style of cast brass with floral open work & a cast brass pommel atop a grip made of wood with sharkskin wrap & triple strands of brass wire. At the base of the grip at the front of the knuckle bow is a leather finger loop. The hilt is secured to the base of the grip with a small square slotted setscrew. Scabbard is of leather with a tooled line edge decoration with plan sheet brass mounts. Hand engraved on the front of the top scabbard mount is “Hamilton Lieber.” Engraved around the top of the counter guard on the sword’s hilt are the battle citations “Saratoga KY., Oct. 22, 1861, Fort Donelson, TNN. Feb. 15, 1862/New York Riot July 13, 1863, Whitehouse Landing, VA, June 20, 1864”. Hamilton Lieber enlisted in the 9th Regiment Ill. Inf. (3 months) in April 1861 & was appointed 2nd Lt. of Co. C. This three-month regiment did garrison duty in Cairo, Ill. & then participated in the expedition from Cairo to Little River & was mustered out on July 26, 1861. Lieber then reenlisted & was appointed 1st Lt. of Co. B 9th Ill. Regiment Inf. for a three-year term. The regiment did their duty mostly in the western theater, participating in the following battles: Fort Henry, Saratoga, Fort Donelson, where Lieber lost an arm in battle, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Corinth, operations in Mississippi & Alabama, New York Draft Riots, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Dalton, Resaca, Kenensaw Mountain, Savannah, Edisto River, & the unit was present at the surrender of Confederate Gen. Johnston in NC. They participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. Hamilton Lieber’s father, Francis Lieber, developed the code during his own youthful battlefield experiences. He fought with the German Regiment in Waterloo in 1815. Coming to America, he studied early European & American political science, was the inspiration for the publication of the Encyclopedia Americana. He became a prolific political philosopher who promoted prison reform, teaching at SC College & Columbia College in NY. Two of his sons, Norman & Hamilton (the owner of the sword described here), fought for the union & his eldest son, Oscar, joined the Confederate army & was killed in action at the Battle of Williamsburg. Lieber was a staunch Lincoln supporter during the 1860 presidential campaign & was asked by General Henry W. Halleck to provide advice on the legal status of pro-Confederate guerillas. Lieber offered his views in a 16-pg essay that Halleck immediately distributed to his officers. Lieber’s theories on the treatment of guerillas & POW’s, including irregulars & civilians, ultimately urged president Abraham Lincoln to issue General Order 100 on April 24, 1863, defining the treatment in various categories of fighting forces & prisoners. Known since in political science & legal circles as the “Lieber Code,” the Europeans were very impressed with the General Order & it became the prototype for the various Geneva Conventions. In addition to the treatment of persons, the “Lieber Code” also dealt with an adversary’s cultural property, & sought to define licit & illicit spoils of war for the first time. CONDITION: Very good. Blade has been cleaned & shows evidence of light sharpening. Etching is deep & strong with areas of dark staining & light pitting on one side. Hilt is fine, shows wear. Grip is tight but is worn near the sharkskin seam. Scabbard leather is flexible with minor surface losses. 4-57276 (5,000-7,500) 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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