The Washington times., 1901-11-17

D
day. There are to be seen in the muse
um swords carried by. or presented to.
| Lieut. David Jameson, Brig. Gen. John
Wynn Davidson. and Gen. George w.
Morgan. A naval cutlass. captured from
the English ship Scraps by John Paul
| Jones. recalls the pluck of that indom-
table fighter. The sword presented to
| Commodore James Biddle, of Revolu-
tionary fame, by the Viceroy of Peru.
has curved blade. gold hilt set with
five diamonds. and a jeweled scabbard.
y short scimiter. with etched blade,
| carved ivory grip, and cham guard.
was secured by Lieutenant Commander
Stephen Decatur during the siege of
Tripoli, on August 3, 1904, in a hand-to-
hand struggle with an Algerine pirate
on the deck of his (Decatur's) vessel.
His opponent had drawn this dagger
from his belt and was about to plunge
1t into Decatur's body, when the latter
managed TO shoot him dead with a pis-
toI.
1t would be quite impossible in
short space limit to describe anything
like the entire number of swords in the
collection, each of which recalls the life
and deeds of hero. Mention should be
made, however, of the four swords pre-
sented to'General Grant. OF these, the
Sword of Chattanooga was the gift
of citizens of 10 Daviess County, Lii
nois- 1t has a straight blade. is double
edged, and is etched with monogram
and military trophies. The pommel is
of gold. with grip-guard and guard
plate ornamented with tortoise shell.
and inscribed, THE Hero of the Missis-
sippi." The scabbard, which is OF gold,
is engraved with the names and dates
of the battles of the Mexican war in
which General Grant was engaged, and
also of the battles of Belmont, Black
River Bridge, Vicksburg, and Chatta-
nooga.
The splendid New York Sword was
presented to General Grant by some of
his friends through the Metropolitan
Fair in aid of the United States Sani
tary Commission, New York, April %,
1864. Its blade is straight. with beveI-
ed edges, and is etched with military
trophies and other designs. The POM
mel is of gilded silver, inlai9 with ru-
bies. diamonds, and sapphires. ne
grip is of oxydized silver, decorated
with bas reliefs. The scabbard is of
sterling silver. polished and silded. and
IS engraved with General Grants name.
the date of presentation, etc.
The Sword of Donelson'' was pre-
sented to Grant by Messrs. G. w Gra-
ham, C. c. March, C. w. Layout, and
John Cook, and was the one which was
generally carried by the general after
his notable capture Of the Confederate
stronghold. The sword has a straight
blade, etched with military trophies, the
pommel is decorated with bas reliefs.
The grip is of carved ivory, and the
gold-plated scabbard is engraved with
Grants name and the names of the
donors. The remaining sword was pre-
sented to General Grant by the Spanish
Republic in 1878. 1t has fine Toledo
blade, with steel guard, ivory grip, and
steel scabbard, ornamented in gold and
enamel. On the blade are inscribed the
following words: Belmont. Dopelson.
Shiloh, Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Spot
sylvania, Richmond. Let US have peace. .
q. S. G." The celebrated make of the
weapon is shown by the mark, "Fabrica
de Toledo, 1873
There are four magnificent swords in /
the case containing the relics of Cen (
Winfield Scott Hancock. Indeed, there !
is scarcely a hero In American history
who is not represented by at least one /
Il
lection, and. while some later presenta-
tions are still held by their recipients !
it may be surmised that these will be
donated, sooner or later, to the muse /
um.