Beschreibung:

33" double-edged spear point blade with a wide, pronounced median ridge. 7.5" massive gold gilt and sterling silver hilt with 6" cross guard formed by the spread wings of a pair of three-dimensional American Eagles that clutch the striped shield of the goddess Columbia in their talons, forming the languets of the sword. The sterling silver grip depicts a classical solider with a Macedonian helmet, surmounting a panoply of arms topped by a plumed Renaissance helm on the obverse. While the reverse grip is cast with an winged angel with up-stretched arms holding a wreath, standing on a pair of trumpets with a trumpet, wings and a halo of stars above. The oversized gilt brass urn shaped pommel is decorated with spears and arrows around its edge and topped with a silver Medusa's mask as a pommel cap. A heavy, double strand, silver chain serves as the hand guard, connecting the base of the pommel the lower wing of the eagle. The blade is exquisitely acid etched and highlighted with gold gilt over the majority of its length, with the three line retailer mark: TIFFANY / & Co / NEW YORK on the reverse ricasso, concealed by the reverse languet. The reverse of the blade shows flowing foliate sprays and scrolls with the central figure that of a Renaissance era foot soldier with a swallow tail banner on a pike and a broad bladed axe at his belt. The letters US are also present on the reverse, joined by a waving ribbon with stars on it. The obverse is etched with similar foliate motifs and features a Civil War period soldier in frock coat with bayonet-fixed rifle musket in full field dress with pack, forage cap and gaiters, as well as an extensive panoply of arms featuring classical arms and banners. The silver washed and gold gilt metal scabbard has exquisitely cast gilt mounts with oak leaves, laurel leaves and with Columbia's shield of stars and stripes serving as the drag. The upper mount has two suspension rings, while the middle mount has a single ring. Below the throat on the obverse is a ribbon marked TIFFANY & CO over the letter M, indicating the work is that of Tiffany silversmith John C. Moore. The central panel of the scabbard, between the upper mounts is engraved in five script lines: Bvt. Brig. Gen. J.W. Forsyth / U.S.A. / from his sincere Friend / L. Dexter Bradford / Oct. 10th, 1867. This sword is published in John Thillman's Civil War Army Swords (pages 518-519) and in Thillman's Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Swords (pp446-448). A really outstanding presentation sword that truly shows off the skills and creativity of the Tiffany crafstmen. James W. Forsyth (1834-1894) was a career soldier whose life of dedicated army service, primarily in staff positions, is barely remembered and then only because of his (adj?) association with the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee. Born in frontier Maumee, Ohio August 8, 1835, Forsyth entered West Point taking five years to graduate with the Class of 1856. Forsyth was commissioned 2nd lieutenant, 9th Infantry, July 1, 1856 and was posted to the Pacific Northwest at Fort Bellingham, Washington and environs between 1856 and 1859, the army presence serving as a deterrent to British claims tied to an ongoing boundary dispute. Just before the start of the war Forsyth was advanced to first lieutenant in March 1861 returning to Ohio as an instructor to a brigade of Ohio volunteer regiments then organizing and drilling at Mansfield. He was advanced to captain, 18th Infantry on October 24, 1861 and took temporary command of the 64th OVI when the regiment was posted to garrison duty at Danville, Kentucky until February 1862. Forsyth was then assigned to staff duty serving in several different positions over the next two years. Initially, he went to the Army of the Potomac as Acting Assistant Adjutant General to the Provost Marshal General while also attached to the staff of General McClellan during the Peninsula and Maryland Campaigns, followed by a very brief stint on the staff of General Mansfield. Ca