Arms, Armor and Militaria

29.75" single-edged spear point blade, 1.125" wide at ricasso with a 20.5" stopped primary fuller and a 14" long narrow secondary fuller at the spine. 35.75" in overall length. 5.75" hilt with gilt brass foot officer's pattern foliate guard with knuckle bow, grooved wood grip covered in shagreen and with 15 wraps of twisted wire. Reverse ricasso stamped HORSTMANN/& SONS with the obverse ricasso stamped PHILADELPHIA. Blade etched with typical foliate and martial motifs. The sword is accompanied by its gilt brass mounted shark skin covered wood scabbard. The obverse of the upper mount is engraved with the presentation: Lieut. Harry M Hyde/U.S.A./From his Friends in/THE ATLANTIC MUTL INs Co/November 30, 1861.

Henry Martyn Hyde, apparently called "Harry" by his friends was a 27 year old insurance salesman from Brooklyn, NY when he enlisted in the 14th New York State Militia (14th Brooklyn) on April 18, 1861, only days after the outbreak of the American Civil War. In December the regiment would be redesignated as the 84th New York Infantry. Hyde was officially mustered into Company C of the regiment on May 23, 1861, and was at some point over the next couple of months promoted to corporal. Hyde was discharged on November 12, 1861 due to his transfer to the 5th US Cavalry and promotion to 2nd Lieutenant. The inscription no doubt is in reference to Hyde's new rank and the "U.S.A." likely indicated his transfer from a volunteer regiment to the Regular Army. Interestingly Hyde was dropped from the rolls of the 5th US Cavalry on December 12, 1861. No reason is given, so it may have been due to health issues. Hyde appears to disappear from the public record prior to the 1870 Census, although in the 1860 Census is his noted to be a 29 year old male insurance salesman with a personal estate valued at $1,000. While a Henry Martyn Hyde also served as the Assistant Paymaster of the US Navy during this period and died in 1864 of disease, the birth years do not appear to quite line up, so they may or may not be the same person, although the two men with the same name and odd spelling of the middle name "Martyn" could well be one in the same. Hyde is certainly worthy of some additional research.