Combination French Hilt Schuyler, Hartley & Graham Officer's Sword Inscribed to Lt. Mason Rea 24th Mass. Infantry - KIA at Drewy's Bluff

American Civil War

30.75" slightly curved single-edged blade with modified spear point tip, 36.5" in overall length. Blade 1" wide at ricasso. 6" gilt brass combination French hilt of the 1838 and 1853 patterns with a large Droop-Winged Eagle in the face of the multi-branch guard on a field of arrows, under an arc of stars and surmounting a laurel wreath. Chiseled backstrap with vine and foliate themes and a similarly decorated pommel cap. Inner face of guard below quillon is engraved M.A.R. Grooved wood grip covered in shagreen with ten wraps of twisted wire. Blade marked SOLINGEN and SCHUYLER/HARTLEY/&/GRAHAM/N.Y. on the obverse near the ricasso. The blade is decorated for nearly its entire length with deeply etched patterns including foliate scrolls, patriotic and martial themes. These include a Spread-Winged Eagle, panoplies of arms and a patriotic "knight" with "US" on his shield on the obverse and Columbia with her shield, a Spread-Winged Eagle and panoplies of arms on the reverse. Central panel themes include intertwined initials on the reverse and a panel scene of soldiers and cavalry in the field on the obverse. Brass mounted leather scabbard with engraved mounts. The reverse of the upper mount is engraved Lt. Mason A Rea/24th Mass Regt.

Mason A. Rea was 27 years old from Readville, MA when he was commissioned a 1st lieutenant in Company K of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment on September 2, 1861. The 24th was part of Burnside's Expedition to North Carolina and fought at Roanoke Island and New Berne in February and March of 1862. The majority of the regiment spent the balance of 1862 in North Carolina, moving to South Carolina in early 1863. The regiment was temporarily returned to the Virginia theater in the spring where they fought at Chancellorsville, before returning to South Carolina. There they participated in the action against James Island and then Morris Island, including the assault on Battery Wagner and its subsequent siege. In early 1864 many of the veterans, including Rea reenlisted and received a Veteran's Furlough with the balance of the regiment being moved to temporary duty in St. Augustine. In late April the regiment was sent to Virginia, where they participated in the battles of The Bermuda Hundred and Drewy's Bluff. It was at this battle that Lt. Rea was killed on May 16, 1864.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

This lot is located in Cincinnati.