Ames Mexican War Presentation Sword of Lt. John Higgins - 1st Massachusetts Infantry

Mexican American War

31" straight double-edged spear point blade with 27.5" narrow median fuller, 1" wide at ricasso. 37.5" in overall length with a 6.5" gilt brass Knight's Head pommel with large clam shell counter guard with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' seal cast in its obverse, faceted chased silver grip and chain guard. Blade is etched on the reverse in three lines: NP Ames / Cutler / Springfield. Blade is acid etched on both sides for approximately 18.5" with flowing foliate, patriotic and martial themes, including panoplies of arms. Gilt brass scabbard with engraved decorations including an American Eagle with the Shield of Columbia in its breast, panoplies of arms with a Liberty Cap and foliate themes. Scabbard with three suspension rings and frog hook. Rear of scabbard with a scroll maker's mark reading N.P. AMES / MAKER / CABOTVILLE, MASS. The reverse of the scabbard is engraved between the two suspension mounts: "Our Country, however bounded. This Sword was presented to Lieut. John Higgins of the / Massachusetts Regiment, / as a testimonial of the respect and affection of his Friends / Boston Jane 20th 1847."

John Higgins was 23 years old when he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in company F of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers. He was enrolled in the regiment on January 4, 1847 in Boston and officially mustered into service on February 3. The 1st Massachusetts Volunteers were raised by former Massachusetts Congressman and US Counsel to China, Colonel Caleb Cushing, who saw the leading of the regiment as a way to advance his political career. It was the only New England regiment to see service during the war. As noted in the brief Massachusetts Historical Society sketch of the Mexican War service of the 1st Mass, their service was "inglorious and extremely costly." The regiment spent most of the war in rear echelon duty and did not enter Mexico City until after the fighting was over. During their service from 1847 until being mustered out in 1848, the regiment lost roughly a third of their number to disease and desertion. The regiment earned a reputation for disorderly conduct and for being undisciplined. John Higgins was one of those casualties of the regiment's Mexican service, being afflicted by extreme dysentery and "bleeding at the lungs and lung fever" while on duty in Perote, Vera Cruz in November of 1847. He was given a leave of absence for health reasons until early 1848 and upon return to the regiment continued to suffer the effects of his illnesses. After discharge and return to Boston he continued to experience the debilitations of his diseases and applied for an invalid pension which was granted as of May 29, 1849, paying him $15 per month. Higgins died of consumption in February of 1850.

This sword is published in the book The Ames Sword Company 1829-1935 by John D Hamilton on page 129. It was offered for sale in 1971 at the auction of the Vincent J. Palange Collection by the Richard A Bourne Company and was featured in Norm Flayderman's Catalog #48 as item #733 and again in Catalog #109 as item #9 and then in Catalog #111 as item #58. A binder of research regarding Higgins, the presentation of the sword and his service accompanies this item, including copies of the various auction and retail listings, copies of newspaper articles documenting the presentation of the sword, as well copies of Higgins commission, service records, etc.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg