The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-19
The Blade---Its History.
Letter from the General.

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presented to Lieut. Gen Grant, by the
citizens Of 10 Davies County. Illinois,
as testimonial Of Their esteem, and Of
the appreciation in which he is held
by his cid neighbors It IS one Of the
finest blades we have ever seen, having
been finished at the Ames Manuf Co,
Chicopee, Mass The grasp and guard
are ornamented with classical designs.
representing highly finished heads Of
Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Minerva.
The grasp is also inlaid with tortoise
shell, held in place by gold studs The
pommel is deliberately finished and is
encircled by ring Of diamonds four
teen in number, set in pure gold just
under the cirelef Of diamonds is Il
shield with the motto Sc FYoret Re-
puJEca." On the cross guard, surround
ing Gen. Grants monogram, is the fol
lowing inscription " 10 Dayiess Co,
III, to Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. GRANT, the
hero Of the Mississippi" The blade is
straight and of the finest steel The
scabbard is covered with solid gold
mounting. The space between the up
per and middle bands Is filed with
tablets on which is engraved a record
of the various battles in which General
Grant took part in Mexico, and below,
running nearly to the tip Of the scab-
bard is plate on which is recorded a
listof the battles and sieges in the
Mississippi Valley, making in all twenty
seven engagements. The entire gift is
valued at two thousand dollars The
following is a list Of battles in which
Gen. Grant has taken part:
Palo Alto, May g, 1876.
Resaca de Ia Palma, May 9, 1876.
Monterey, Sept. 10, 20 and q, 1916.
Vera Cruz siege, March to p, 1917.
cerro Gordo, April Is, l847.
San Antonio, Aug. 20, 1917.
Cherubusco, Aug. 20, lsi7.
Moline del Rey, Sept. 8, 1917.
Cheputepec, Sept 10, ls47.
Garfta San Cozano, Sept H. 1877.
City Of Mexico, Sept. a., lS47.
Belmont, Nov. :, 1861.
Fort Henry, Feb. g, 1862.
Fort Doneison, Feb. Il, "a, Is and l6, 1862.
Shiloh, April and Z, 1862.
Corinth siege, April % 10 May 80, 1869.
lul.a, Sept. 10, 1862.
Corinth, Oct. 3 and 4, 1862.
Hatchie, Oct. 8, 1862
Tallahatchie, Dec. ], 1862.
Port Gibson, May /, 1868.
Raymond, May II, 1868.
Jackson, May Il, 1868.
Champion Hill, May lG, 1868.
Black River Bridge, May IL, 1868.
Yicksburg, July A, .lSG3.
Chattanooga, Nov. %. p, &c and 1868.
The following letter accompanied the
sword:
LIEUT.. -GEX GRANT:
As the Committee appointed by the Board
Of Supervisors Of 10 Davies county, we now
have the honor 90 address you, That Board,
responding 10 the patriotic desire Of all the
loyal citizens of the county, passed a reso-
luton for the procuration Of a sword 10 be
presented 70 You, in the name Of the people
Of that county which has the honor Of claim-
ing you as its distinguished citizen. We
now read 10 you the proceeding Of the Board
Of Supervisors, engrOssed upon the parch
nent, which viii testify 20 you the entire
aud patriotic unanimity~which character
lied the proceeding OF the Board on Slis
subject. Here were read the proceedings
Of the Board.) Having thus shown the ac-
ton Of our noble county, we nog have the
pleasure 10 present 10 You, the sword. IN the
name Of the people Of that county, and IN
their behalf ask that You may receive il ne
slight token Of their respect for you as a
ell0w-citzen, and as tribute Of their graft
tude for the inestimable service YOU have
rendered our country In the suppression of
the rebellion against the Government.
Il may be gratifying for you to know that
you have ever enjoyed the fullest and most
entire confidence of your fellow-ciGzens Of
10 Davies county. Presiding at the first
meeting that was called in the county, at
the Court House in Galena, after the flag on
Fort Sumter had been fired upon by per
fdious traitors, you have since devoted
yourself with zeal and ability only equal
ed by your courage and skill as a soldier to
the cause of your country, and your achieve
ments have challenged the admiration, and
received the heart felt thanks OF the nation.
Whatever effect, at any time, calumny and
aetraction may have had upon the public
mind, YOU can be assured that there has
never been a time when YOU have not found
a defender in every loyal citizen of 10 Da-
viess county. il j. now with profound gra-
tiication that your immediate iellow-citizens
can realize that you have more than vindi-
Gated the most enthusiastic claims Of your
friends, ana that YOU need no defenders now
from 10 Davies or elsewhere. That time
has passed, and il can now be said you are
Moored in the rilcd rock
Proof against the tempest shock
Lieut.. Gen. Grant, We not only bear to
YOU this sword in the name of the people
of our county, but we bear 30 YOU the most
ardent wish of every loyal and patriotic
citizen thereof for your continued success in
the noble work in which you are engaged,
and for your future health, happiness and
prosperity.
s. F. NAPIER,
II. s. TOWNSEND,
Com. Board supv'rs, 10 Davies Co, Ill.
Gen. Grant replied in the following
modest epistle:
NksHvLLE, Tenn, March rs. 1864.
Nessrs. s. T. Noppcr and II. S. IoraSeHd,
Committee Of board Of Supervisors Of 10
DaUicSs CoHntV, H.:
GENTLEMEN: Permit me, through you, 10
return TO the Board of Supervisors and peo-
pie Of 10 Davies county, my sincere thanks
for this beautiful and valued sword. Say