Arms, Armor and Militaria

34.25" curved, singled-edged blade, 39.75" in overall length. 5.25" hilt with decorated and chased gilt brass two branch guard with knuckle bow and cord wrapped wood grip covered in leather with with thirteen warps of doubled double strand twisted wire. While unmarked as to maker or retailer, the hilt style and etched IRON PROOF on the spine are consistent with Solingen made cavalry officers swords by Clauberg. Blade decorated with traditional acid etched motifs, including foliate, marital and patriotic. The sword is accompanied by its gilt brass scabbard which is engraved over most of its surfaces and has chased mounts. Between the mounts on the obverse it is engraved: Presented to/Lieut. J.H. Bradley/adjt. 1st. M.G. 131st N.Y.S.V./by/the Non. Coms./Sept. 12th, 1862. The sword is published in David Stroud's Inscribed Union Swords on pages 100-101. The sword was offered for sale in Norm Flayderman's Catalog #68. A large binder of research and information about Bradley and his service accompanies the saber, including photocopies of the relevant portions of Stroud's books as well as the portions of Flayderman's catalog that relate.

James H Bradley was 24 years old when he joined the Union cause on May 7, 1861. He was commissioned a 1st lieutenant in Company D of the 31st New York Volunteer Infantry on May 27. Like many of the early war units, the 31st saw their first combat at Manassas Junction at the 1st Battle of Bull Run on July 21st. The regiment then returned to the defenses of Washington until March of 1862. On December 19, 1861 Bradley was dismissed from the service by Courts Martial. However, Bradley soon returned to the service as a volunteer aide-de-camp to Colonel John Lafayette Riker of the 62nd New York Volunteer Infantry, and was present at the Battle of Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) May 31-June 1, 1862. On August 14, 1862 he received a new commission as a 1st lieutenant into the Field & Staff of the 131st New York Infantry. The regiment was ordered to New Orleans in late 1862 and spent most of its service over the next 18 months in the Department of the Gulf. The regiment participated in the Port Hudson Campaign and Red River Campaign. On March 6, 1864 Bradley joined the Louisiana 1st New Orleans Infantry and was commissioned a captain. He died of disease in New Orleans on October 2, 1864.