HISTORIC AMERICAN CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION SWORD GIVEN TO NEW YORK OFFICER BY MAJOR GENERAL WEITZEL.

HISTORIC AMERICAN CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION SWORD GIVEN TO NEW YORK OFFICER BY MAJOR GENERAL WEITZEL. The sword is a fancy militia officers eaglehead dress sword with a 30″ double edged straight blade having etched decorations including generic floral sprays, war trophies and an very unusual palmetto tree. The cross guard is quite fancy with two langets being of gilded cast brass with two down turned quillons and a cast floral and scallop shell decoration. The grip is of ivory showing a checkered and sunburst pattern carving. The pommel is a stylized eaglehead with a heavy chain guard attached to the beak and quillon. The scabbard is of gilded brass with two carrying rings, a mounted stud and engraved laurel leaf patterns on the face. The reverse side of the scabbard is engraved with the presentation: Bvt. Col. Horace B. Fitch, From Maj. Gen.l G. Weitzel/Labadierville “Cotton” Bisband, “Port Hudson,” “Fort Harrison,” “Chapins Bluff”/RICHMOND. Horace B. Fitch was a native of New York being appointed 2nd Lt. of the 75th N.Y. Infantry Regiment on October 9, 1861. By June 10th of 1863 he rose to the rank of 1st Lt. On December 29, 1863, Fitch became Captain of the 139th N.Y. Infantry. On November 22, 1865 Fitch received an appointment to Brevet Major and Brevet Colonel of Volunteers for faithful and meritorious service during the action of September 29, 1864 (which is during this regiment’s occupation of Atlanta, Georgia). This sword was presented to Bvt. Col. Fitch by Major General Godfrey Weitzel. General Weitzel had Fitch under his command at several points during the war. Notably (as inscribed in all capital letters on the sword’s scabbard) Richmond, Virginia where Weitzel is credited with the famous telegraph message sent on April 3, 1865 “We entered Richmond at eight o’clock this morning.” Obviously these two became colleagues and comrades having known each other in various earlier commands and, finally, entering the Confederate capitol together near the end of the Civil War. CONDITION: Very good. The sword blade has been cleaned numerous times and now retains a light grey appearance with spotty pitting near the tip. The etching is faint but discernable. The hilt retains approx. 25% of its gilt, the grip is loose, however, quite nice in appearance. The scabbard is uncleaned showing a medium patina overall and having numerous minor dents in the body. An exceptionally historic sword of nice appearance which, with a little additional research, may reveal a lasting friendship between this Bvt. Colonel and important Major General of the American Civil War. 4-48567 CW01 (3,500-5,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2003

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
	494	$4,025.00	HISTORIC AMERICAN CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION SWORD GIVEN TO NEW YORK OFFICER BY MAJOR GENERAL WEITZEL. The sword is a fancy militia officers eaglehead dress sword with a 30″ double edged straight blade having etched decorations including generic floral sprays, war trophies and an very unusual palmetto tree. The cross guard is quite fancy with two langets being of gilded cast brass with two down turned quillons and a cast floral and scallop shell decoration. The grip is of ivory showing a checkered and sunburst pattern carving. The pommel is a stylized eaglehead with a heavy chain guard attached to the beak and quillon. The scabbard is of gilded brass with two carrying rings, a mounted stud and engraved laurel leaf patterns on the face. The reverse side of the scabbard is engraved with the presentation: Bvt. Col. Horace B. Fitch, From Maj. Gen.l G. Weitzel/Labadierville “Cotton” Bisband, “Port Hudson,” “Fort Harrison,” “Chapins Bluff”/RICHMOND. Horace B. Fitch was a native of New York being appointed 2nd Lt. of the 75th N.Y. Infantry Regiment on October 9, 1861. By June 10th of 1863 he rose to the rank of 1st Lt. On December 29, 1863, Fitch became Captain of the 139th N.Y. Infantry. On November 22, 1865 Fitch received an appointment to Brevet Major and Brevet Colonel of Volunteers for faithful and meritorious service during the action of September 29, 1864 (which is during this regiment’s occupation of Atlanta, Georgia). This sword was presented to Bvt. Col. Fitch by Major General Godfrey Weitzel. General Weitzel had Fitch under his command at several points during the war. Notably (as inscribed in all capital letters on the sword’s scabbard) Richmond, Virginia where Weitzel is credited with the famous telegraph message sent on April 3, 1865 “We entered Richmond at eight o’clock this morning.” Obviously these two became colleagues and comrades having known each other in various earlier commands and, finally, entering the Confederate capitol together near the end of the Civil War. CONDITION: Very good. The sword blade has been cleaned numerous times and now retains a light grey appearance with spotty pitting near the tip. The etching is faint but discernable. The hilt retains approx. 25% of its gilt, the grip is loose, however, quite nice in appearance. The scabbard is uncleaned showing a medium patina overall and having numerous minor dents in the body. An exceptionally historic sword of nice appearance which, with a little additional research, may reveal a lasting friendship between this Bvt. Colonel and important Major General of the American Civil War. 4-48567 CW01 (3,500-5,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2003 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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