Cent Guard Style Presentation Sword of Capt. A.T. Farwell 179th NY Infantry, KIA at The Crater and the Sword Captured by Capt. J.B. Hughes, 11th AL Infantry

American Civil War

32.25" slightly curved single-edged spear point blade with a 19" stopped median fuller, 1" wide at ricasso. Overall length 38", with French Cent Guard gilt brass three branch hilt with knuckle bow and chiseled pommel cap. Grooved grip of polished wood with multi-strand wire wrap. Guard with a spread-winged Eagle in its face. Reverse ricasso with Clauberg maker's mark and obverse marked Schuyler, Hartley & Graham around the "Proved" disc. Blade etched with flowing foliate motifs and patriotic motifs, with a large US on the reverse as the central image and a spread-winged Eagle and trophies of arms as the central themes of the obverse. The sword is accompanied by its German silver scabbard with gilt brass mounts. The obverse of the scabbard is engraved between the throat and upper mount: Presented to/Capt. A.T. Farwell/by the Members of his Company/AS A TESTIMONIAL OF THEIR ESTEEM. The reverse of the scabbard is engraved above the upper suspension mount: Surrendered to J.B. Hughes Capt. Co/G 11th Ala. Regt. inside the Crater/at Petersburg, VA on the 30th of July 1864. A large binder of research and information accompanies the sword, including service histories for both officers. The sword was acquired from the late Kevin Hoffman's Historical Preservations company.

Allen T. Farwell was from Corning, NY and joined the 179th New York Infantry on May 2, 1864. He was commissioned the captain of Company F on June 28, 1864. The regiment was initially sent to the defenses of Washington, DC but on June 11th, 1862 was reassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment moved to Petersburg, where it fought during the initial assault on the defenses from June 16-18. Their next major action came on July 30, 1864 when the mine explosion under the Confederate lines resulted in what is known as the Battle of the Crater. At this time, Farwell was listed as Killed in Action and his sword was captured by Captain J.B. Hughes of the 11th Alabama Infantry, as noted in the inscription on the reverse. Hughes has a far more interesting military history than that of Farwell, who was in the service for less than ninety days. Hughes was the Captain of Company G, the "Tuscaloosa Rifles" and had initially enlisted as a sergeant in May of 1861. He was elected captain of the company in November of 1862 and served in that capacity through the balance of the war. Hughes was wounded at both Antietam and Gettysburg and later captured at White's Tavern about two weeks after the Battle of the Crater. Upon his parole he returned to his regiment where he served until the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Ex-Kevin Hoffman