Arms, Armor and Militaria

32" slightly curved single-edged spear point blade with a 21" stopped median fuller. 38" in overall length, with a nominally 6" which includes a gilt brass foliate open work guard and a grooved wood grip covered in shagreen with 11 wraps of twisted wire. Spine of the blade is etched IRON PROOF. Reverse ricasso with Clauberg logo and maker's mark. Reverse blade with acid etched US in the center and the obverse with a large spread-winged American Eagle. A gold bullion officer's sword knot is attached to the knuckle bow. The sword includes its rear seamed, engraved gilt brass mounted leather scabbard with inscriptions on the reverse of the upper and middle mounts. The upper mount reads, Presented to/Lieut. A.O. Dodge/by Co F/16th Regt. N.Y. Vol./Feb. 1863 with West Point/Gaines Hill/Charles City Cross Roads/Crampton Gap/Antietam/Fredericksburg engraved on the middle mount. The case also includes a burgundy worsted wool sash and a folded and sewn leather sword belt, as well as a large gold bullion eagle hat device that is nominally 3.5"x3.5". All of this is contained in a lovely highly figured wood case with a form fitted mauve velvet interior, which has an inscription plaque on the top which reads: Presented to/Lt. A Dodge/Co. E 16th NYSV/Presented by Co. F. The grouping is accompanied by a large binder of research about Dodge, copies of his service records, and copies of period newspaper accounts about the presentation of the sword to Dodge and his thanks to the regiment.

Asaph Dodge enlisted in the 16th New York State Volunteer Infantry on April 27, 1861 in Potsdam, NY. He was officially mustered into the regiment on May 15, 1861 as a sergeant in Company F. The 16th New York moved from their training camp in New York to the defenses of Washington in late June, arriving on June 29. The regiment was marched out of Washington as part of Davies' Brigade, Miles' Division of McDowell's Army of Northern Virginia, and proceeded to Fairfax Courthouse area. On July 21 the regiment was engaged at the Battle of First Manassas, and then retreated to the Alexandria area with most of the Union Army. The regiment spent most of the following months until the spring of 1862 in the Washington area, with some limited forays into the Northern Virginia area. The regiment regiment participated in the Peninsula Campaign in April and May of 1862, fighting at Yorktown and West Point. On June 25th Dodge, who had previously been promoted to 1st Sergeant of Company F was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and transferred to Company E. That same day the regiment began the Seven Days Before Richmond campaign, seeing combat at Gaines' Mill on the 27th, Savage's Station on the 29th, White Oak Swamp on the 30th and Malvern Hill on July 1. In August the regiment participated in Pope's Northern Virginia Campaign, and then the Maryland Campaign, which included fighting at Crampton's Gap, South Mountain and culminated at the battle of Antietam. Like most of the Army of the Potomac the 16th ended 1862 by fighting at Fredericksburg. From January 20-24, 1863 the regiment participated in Burnside's ill-fated "Mud March" and on January 21 Dodge was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. The regiment participated in the Chancellorsville Campaign and saw combat at Salem Church on May 3-4. On May 15 the regiment was mustered out of service as their enlistments had expired.