Combination French Hilt Non-Regulation Officer's Sword Presented to Capt. John Kilburn - 7th VT Infantry

American Civil War

33.75" tapered spear point heavy cavalry blade with three deep, narrow fullers, 1.15" wide at the ricasso. Overall length 40" with a 6.25" hilt featuring a gilt brass guard with a large American Eagle and shield in the face, and a highly detailed face of Medusa on the top of the pommel cap. The hilt has a grooved wooden grip covered in shagreen with fourteen wraps of mutli-strand wire. Blade etched with flowing floral patterns in the deep fullers and is engraved in the reverse fullers with the French pattern of 1853 designation and with the location of the blade's manufacture being Chatellerault Arsenal, where it was produced in June of 1860. The backstrap of the hilt is engraved: Presented to Capt. J.B. Kilburn/Co D Vt Vols/by his Co March 11", 1862. The sword is accompanied by its blued steel scabbard with chiseled gilt brass mounts. A large binder or research and information about Kilburn accompanies the sword. The binder includes an identified CDV of Kilburn.

John B. Kilburn (1824-1896) joined the 7th Vermont on January 7, 1862 and was commissioned the captain of Company D on February 4, 1862. The regiment was organized at Rutland, VT and would spend its three-years service with the Army of the Department of the Gulf. They would be part of General Butler's Expedition to New Orleans in 1862 and would also see service in Pensacola. The regiment would see action during the initial Siege of Vicksburg during June and July of 1862, at Baton Rouge on August 5, 1862, at Gonzales Station (AL) on July 15, 1864, during the Mobile and Spanish Fort Campaigns of March-April 1865 and at Wistler, AL on March 13, 1865. Like most northern regiments serving in the deep south, nearly all of the fatalities were due to accident and disease, rather than combat. Of the 420 casualties the regiment suffered, only 13 were due to combat (Foxes Regimental Losses). Kilburn resigned his commission on January 11, 1863.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg