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Sword

Description

Military medical staff rapier with gold-colored hilt and straight, double-edged blade. Etched with floral sprays and a ribbon engraved with "N.P. Ames/Cutler, Springfield, U.S." surrounded by wreath, and a bearded male bust of "Esculapius." Reverse is etched with floral designs and military trophies. Slender four-sided grip of gilded brass is decorated with beading. Tang secured with nut; knuckle-box beaded in panel midway below blade. It joins cross quillons which terminate in ball finials turned forward toward blade. Shell counter-guard on obverse only with beaded borders. Said to have been used by General Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891) during the Indian & Mexican Wars, and during his first years in the Confederate Army.

Date

1861-1865

Materials

Metal

Dimensions

37 3/8 L inches

Object ID

1924.3.2a

Resource ID

10587

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. Thomas Gresham Baxter

Digital Publisher

Digital resource provided by the Maryland Center for History and Culture

Rights

This digital image is made available here for private study, scholarship, and research. Commercial and other uses are prohibited without the permission of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. For more information, visit the MCHC’s Reproductions and Permissions web page.