Saurbier Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword Presented to Lt. J.C. Schoen 8th NY Cavalry & 151 NY Infantry - KIA at Cold Harbor - with CDV

American Civil War

31" slightly curved single edged blade with a 27.5" unstopped median fuller and a 21" narrow fuller along the spine. Blade 1.25" wide at ricasso. Overall length 36.5" with a 5.5" gilt brass hilt with foliate decorations. Grooved wood grip covered in shagreen with 13 wraps of twisted wire. Blade etched with flowing foliate, martial and patriotic themes and marked H. Saurbier/New Jersey/Warranted on the reverse. The sword is accompanied by its gilt brass mounted leather scabbard which is incomplete and missing about 7"-8" at the end. The obverse of the upper mount is engraved: Lieut. J.C. Schoen/from his/Friends/Rochester, NY. The sword is accompanied by a CDV of Schoen and a binder of research about him.

John Charles Schoen (1835-1864) was born in Pflaz, the Rhineland region of Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1855. He settled in the Rochester, NY area. On October 11, 1861 he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in Company K of the 8th NY Cavalry. Due to a variety of issues the regiment was never mounted and was used as dismounted cavalry before being reassigned to be artillery. On March 25, 1862 he resigned his commission as he was "not qualified to be an artillery officer." On November 11, 1862 he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in Company E of the 151st NY Infantry. The regiment spent most of 1863 on duty along the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers but did participate in the Bristoe Campaign and Mine Run Campaign during the fall of 1863, and in the associated engagements. Schoen was promoted to captain of the company on Decebmer 30, 1863. 1864 saw the regiment engaged at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Totopotomoy and Cold Harbor. Schoen was killed at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

This lot is located in Cincinnati.