U.S. Model 1860 Staff & Field Officers Sword of Capt. Francis Vinton - 13th US Infantry

American Civil War

30" double edged spearpoint blade with pronounced median ridge, .68" wide at the ricasso. 35.25" in overall length with a 5.375" hilt. Cast gilt brass guard with knucklebow and fixed clamshell counterguard. Interior face of guard with raised cast patriotic Eagle motif. Grooved wooden grip with leather covering and thirteen wraps of twisted wire. Reverse of blade etched JACOB GMINDER/BALTIMORE, MD. on the ricasso. Both sides of blade with 13" long acid etched panels with floral and foliate sprays, martial and patriotic themes, trophies of arms, a spread-winged eagle on the obverse and a US on the reverse. Nickel plated steel scabbard with brass mounts, the upper having a frog hook. Reverse of the upper mount is engraved Capt. Francis Vinton/13th U.S. Infantry. Vinton is noted in General Order #316 as a Captain of the Thirteenth United States Infantry, promoted to Brigadier General as of March 13, 1862. However, Vinton's history shows he was a captain in the 16th US Infantry.

Vinton, Francis L., brigadier-general, was born at Fort Preble, Me., June 1, 1835, son of Maj. John B. Vinton, after whose death he was cared for by his uncle Francis. He graduated West Point in 1856, but presently resigned to enter the school of mines at Paris. Completing the course there in 1860, he made some mineralogical researches in Central America and was reappointed in the army as captain in the 16th infantry in Aug., 1861. Being offered a colonelcy of volunteers by three governors, he accepted that of the 43d N. Y., served in the Army of the Potomac under Hancock, was engaged at Williamsburg, Gaines, mill and elsewhere, and was made brigadier-general of volunteers Sept. 19, 1862. A severe wound, received while leading a charge at Fredericksburg, incapacitated him for further service and he resigned on May 6, 1863.

In Sept., 1864, he took the chair of mining engineering in the newly organized school of mines in Columbia College and held it until 1877, having charge also of civil engineering from 1870. He wrote much for the "Engineering and Mining Journal," and other technical papers, published a poem, "The Guardian, a Diversion" (1869); "Lectures on Machines" (1869); and "Theory of the Strength of Materials" (1874). His last years were spent at Denver as consulting engineer of mines. Gen. Vinton died at Leadville, Col., Oct. 6, 1879. Source: The Union Army, vol. 8

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg