Arms, Armor and Militaria

30.5" single-edged slightly curved spear-point blade with a 21.5" stopped median fuller and a 15.5" narrow secondary fuller along the spine. 36.5" in overall length, with a 5.75" hilt with a gilt brass foliate motif guard. Grooved wooden grip with shagreen covering and 18 wraps of twisted wire. Reverse ricasso stamped in two lines WALSCHEID/SOLINGEN. Blade etched with floral, patriotic and martial themes. Metal scabbard with engraved gilt brass mounts and a presentation plaque between the upper and middle mounts. The plaque is engraved: Presented to/CAPT. WILLIAM A WALKER/Co C 27th Mass V by the members/OF HIS COMPANY/as a toke of their regard and/esteem for him as a Man/& a solider. Newbern, N.C./June 17, 1862. The sword is contained in a wooden case marked with a gilt ink stamp that reads SCHUYLER, HARTLEY/& GRAHAM/19 MAIDEN LANE/N.Y. on the pillow inside the lid. The compartmentalized mahogany veneer wood case was originally lined in a mauve velvet which has mostly faded to a dull brown color. The case contains a gilt officers sword knot, a maroon officers silk sash, a leather backed bullion and cloth sword belt and a pair of brass spurs. A CDV of Walker is also included with the sword.

William A. Walker was a 35-year old accountant from Greenfield, MA when he was commissioned the captain of Company C of the 27th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on October 16, 1861. The 27th Mass moved to Annapolis, MD in early November and remained there for drill and instruction until January of the following year when they joined Burnside's Expedition to Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island. The regiment fought at Roanoke Island and New Berne and remained in North Carolina for the rest of the year and most of 1863 as well. In 1863 the regiment participated in the Siege of Washington, NC and spent much of the year doing Provost Duty in New Berne. On May 29, 1863 Walker was promoted to be the regimental major and left Company C for the Field & Staff. In March of 1864 the regiment was reassigned to duty in Virginia, initially in Portsmouth, but by May were in motion to join Grant's Overland Campaign. They fought at Port Walthal Junction and Chester Station on May 6-7 and Walker was wounded during the action on the 6th. Less than a week later the regiment was engaged at Drewry's Bluff where some 252 men were captured, including the Colonel commanding and the lieutenant colonel. This left Walker in command of the remnants of the regiment. Two weeks later the regiment was engaged at the Battle of Cold Harbor, and while leading an assault on June 3, Walker was killed.