Arms, Armor and Militaria

33.5" slightly curved single edged blade with 25.5" median fuller and 17" narrow fuller at spine, blade 1.125" wide at the ricasso. 39.5" in overall length with a 5.75" hilt. Gilt cast brass guard with open work foliate decorations and solid backstrap, grooved wood grip covered in shagreen and with 7 wraps of twisted wire. Blade by PDL and marked TIFFANY & CO/NEW YORK on the obverse and WARRANTED TO CUT/WROUGHT IRON on the reverse. Reverse ricasso with P.D. Luneschloss markings. Both sides of the blade engraved with central panels with the reverse showing a wide foliate spray surrounding a large US and the obverse showing a {Spread-Winged Eagle}. The sword is accompanied by its German silver scabbard with gilt brass mounts. The reverse of the throat is engraved: From the Members/of the/Richmond Guard/of Buffalo/to/Capt. T.B. Hamilton/as a Slight Testimonial/of their Esteem. A gilt officer's sword knot is attached to the knuckle bow. The sword is accompanied by a large binder of research about Hamilton, his service and his regiments.

Theodore B. Hamilton (1836-1893) was commissioned the captain of Company G, the "Richmond Guard", in the 33rd New York Volunteer Infantry on May 22, 1861. The company hailed from Buffalo, NY. Hamilton was captured at the Battle of Gaines' Mill on June 27, 1862 and was sent to Libby Prison in Richmond for confinement. He was paroled on August 12, 1862 and returned to service. On December 27, 1862 he was discharged from the 33rd and commissioned as the Lt. Colonel of the 62nd New York Volunteer Infantry, known as Anderson's Zouaves. Lt. Col. Hamilton received a gunshot wound at the Battle of Marye's Heights on May 3, 1863 and he was with his regiment at Gettysburg, where the regimental colonel was given command of their brigade leaving Hamilton to lead the 62nd in the fight. Hamilton and his regiment are honored with a memorial at Gettysburg, where he led them in a charge that recaptured two guns that had been previously lost. In 1864 the regiment fought at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor, before settling into the defenses of Washington in July. At Spotsylvania Hamilton received another gunshot wound, this time in his right leg. He was promoted to colonel on June 29, 1864 and received his third gunshot wound at Winchester on September 19. He was honorably mustered out of service on August 30, 1865.