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Rare and Historic Presentation "We Never Surrender" Civil War Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's Swo

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Rare and Historic Presentation  We Never Surrender  Civil War Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's Swo
Rare and Historic Presentation "We Never Surrender" Civil War Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's Sword by W. Clauberg, Presentation Inscribed to Captain Thomas Hardeman from Company F, 55th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, with Battle Honors. 32 ¾-inch slightly curved blade, the left side etched with panoplies of arms, floral scrolls, interlocking U.S. monogram and a panoply of flags. Single wide fuller. Ricasso marked: W. Clauberg/Solingen. Right side with gladius flanked by garlands and boughs, a panoply of arms, bold legend in Old English reading: "We Never Surrender" surrounded by floral scrolls, below a U.S. monogram and a panoply of flags. Four different patriotic eagle motifs grace the sides of the blade. Top of back edge etched with floral meander and bearing legend: Iron Proof. Gold-gilded brass hilt, the front guard pierced with a finely rendered American eagle surrounded with ornate floral scrolls and roped borders. Handsome and unique eaglehead quillon. The back edge of knucklebow with shaft of wheat. Silver-plated relief cast grip, the left side with sculpted scrolls surrounding a ruby-red transparent oval cabochon. Right side adorned with a deep-relief Goddess of Liberty under a cluster of stars and holding a Union shield. The pommel depicts an American eagle surrounded by deeply carved floral scrolls and capped with an ornate three-tiered oval, the rouletted outer ring mounted with 16 ruby-colored stones and topped with a transparent deep red oval cabochon. The fine German Silver scabbard bears the presentation inscription: Presented to Capt. Thos. Hardeman/By Co. F. 55th Ky. M. I. Also inscribed with the following battle honors: Round Mountain, Woodbury, Aug. 28th '62. Stone River./ Jan. 25th '63, Graysville, Chickamauga,/Brown's Ferry, Tunnel Hill, Rockey Face Ridge/Resaca, New Hope Church. Finely cast three dimensional gilt brass mountings, the throat with delicate floral scrolls, the top ring mount with finely detailed American eagle, pierced and surrounded by an oval frame of floral scrolls and topped with a ring mount in the form of a sea serpent with a twist hanging ring. The central ring mount depicts a sculpted and pierced panoply of flags with a reprise of the serpent and ring mount motif. The lower mount with a Union soldier in relief, flanked with American flags and surrounded by a roped border with roped lacework above. The drag is an ornate scroll, pierced with grape leaves and inner roped border. All are gilt finished. A beautiful and well appointed officer's Civil War presentation sword from a documented owner who was wounded in action and bearing the inscribed record of his participation in many historic battles.Captain Thomas Hardeman rose quickly through the ranks of the 23rd Kentucky from December of 1861 through October of 1864 and was cited for gallant conduct at Chickamauga. During his term with the 23rd, Hardeman saw action in most every encounter with the enemy to include the battle honors inscribed on this sword. He was eventually wounded by gunshot at Dallas, Georgia during the Atlanta campaign and discharged for disability. After recovery, he was commissioned an officer in Company F of the 55th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. Unlike most presentation swords, this one appears to have been proudly carried by Hardeman in the field, the remainder of the war.The 55th Kentucky Mounted Infantry regiment was raised under special authority from the war department and was organized at Covington, Kentucky in November of 1864. On the Saltville expedition it performed good and efficient service and was favorably mentioned by the commanding general, among other troops in his division, for gallant bearing in the face of the enemy.Condition: Good to very good. Blade showing wear and grey patina with tiny light spots of pitting present but with all of its etched motifs showing. The hilt with wear to gilt and age patina present. The hilt and scabbard mounts showing surface wear, aged patina and generous amounts of original gold gilt finish.