Arms, Armor and Militaria

1.) US Model 1850 Staff & Field Officers Sword retailer marked by Willard & Hawley of Syracuse, NY. 31" slightly curved single-edged spear point blade with a 21" stopped median fuller. 37" in overall length. 6" hilt with gilt brass foliate guard with US in the face and a grooved wooden grip covered in shagreen with 16 wraps of twisted wire. Blade dated 1862 on the obverse ricasso with the retailer name and address etched on the reverse of the blade above the ricasso. Blade etched with foliate and patriotic themes and on the reverse with the presentation that reads: Presented to Maj. Gustavus Sniper by his friends ES Payne and BD Benson. The presentation is noted in a period newspaper article. The sword is accompanied by its brass mounted steel scabbard.

2.) US Model 1860 Staff & Field Officers Sword retailer marked by Horstmann. 29.5" double-edged spear point blade with diamond cross section. 35.75" in overall length. 6" hilt with deeply chiseled cast brass guard, knuckle bow and pommel cap with floral and patriotic motifs. Plain brass folding counterguard. Deeply chiseled German silver grip is decorated with martial themes. The sword is accompanied by its silvered steel scabbard with gilt brass mounts and is engraved on the reverse between the throat and upper mount: Genl. G. Sniper/Presented by the members of/Central City Veterans. This presentation sword is also noted in a period newspaper article. The swords are accompanied by a large binder of research about Sniper.

Gustavus Sniper (1836-1894) was born in Freiburg, Baden (Germany). He emigrated to the United States in 1842 with his family, which settled in Syracuse, NY where he was educated. He worked in the cigar making business as a young man and joined the local militia company, the Syracuse Light Guard in 1854. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Sniper helped to organize two companies of volunteer infantry, one serving with the 12th and one with the 24th New York. Sniper was very briefly commissioned as the Captain of Company C of the 12th NY on December 15, 1861 but was discharged for promotion on February 1, 1862 and transferred to the Field & Staff of the 101st NY. The 101st spent their initial service in the defenses of Washington DC but in the spring joined the Army of the Potomac on the Virginia Peninsula where they fought during the Seven Days Before Richmond, followed by Pope's Northern Virginia Campaign which culminated at 2nd Manassas. On November 11 Sniper was promoted to lieutenant colonel and the following month the 101st fought at Fredericksburg. The regiment was mustered out on December 23, 1862 and Sniper returned home.

On September 23, 1864 Sniper commissioned as the Lieutenant Colonel of the 185th New York which was organized in the Syracuse area. The regiment was dispatched to the Siege of Petersburg. On March 10, 1865 Sniper was promoted to the rank of colonel and took command of the regiment. He led them at the battles of Hatcher's Run and Lewis Farm at the Junction of the Boydton Plank and Quaker Roads. Here Sniper led a charge that earned him a brevet promotion to Brigadier General for gallantry. The regiment was also at Five Forks and Appomattox and concluded their service by marching in the Grand Review. In 1905 a large equestrian statue was erected in Syracuse to commemorate Sniper.