Arms, Armor and Militaria

25.125" straight spear point blade, 1" wide at ricasso. Overall length 31.75" with a 6.75" gilt brass hilt with reeded bone grip, Knight's Head pommel cap, 5.125" cross guard and shell motif langets. Blade etched with flowing foliate and patriotic designs and obverse ricasso dry needle etched with Ames markings that are concealed by the langets. The sword is accompanied by its gilt brass mounted leather scabbard with the upper mount engraved Presented to/1st Sergt./H.J. Parker/33rd Regt. Ms. Inf./by the/Students of/Townsend. A binder of information about Parker and his service accompanies the sword.

Henry J. Parker was 25 years old and from Townsend, MA when he enlisted as a private in the 6th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment on may 20, 1861. This was a 90-day regiment and Parker and the balance of the regiment were mustered out on August 2, 1861. On January 22, 1862 he enlisted in Company E of the 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment as the company's 1st Sergeant. On February 16, 1863 Parker was promoted to Sergeant Major of the regiment and was transferred to the regimental field and staff. On March 29, 1863 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and returned to Company E. The 33rd Mass spent much of 1862 in the Northern Virginia area and started 1863 with the infamous "Mud March". The regiment's first major action came at Chancellorsville on May 1-5, 1863, followed by Brandy Station on June 9 and Gettysburg June 1-4. In the fall of 1863 the regiment was moved to the Western Theater where they fought at Wauhatchie, Tunnel Hill and Missionary Ridge in October and November. In 1864 they participated in the Atlanta Campaign with the first major engagement being at Resaca on May 14-15. Parker was killed in action at Resaca on May 15.