Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08

April %, 1864 Its blade is etched with mill
tary trophies and other designs. The pom
mel is of gilded silver inlaid with rubies,
diamonds and sapphires. The grip is OF
oxid1zed silver decorated with bas-reliefs.
The scabbard is of sterling silver pc lished
and gided and is engraved with the gen
erals name, date of presentation. etc.
The Sword of Donelson" was Gen.
Grants favorite tribute to his valor. When
the right wing of his army WAS atta cked by
the confederate troops at Fort DoneIson,
one of his officers, observing that the sol
diers' haversacks were filed with rations.
reported the fact to the general adding:
They have come out prepared to fight for
several days Grant replied: This means
retreat, boys. Soldiers don't fill 3v5rs 1cks
like this unless they are planning 10 run
away. Now, then, one more sharp attack
and we'll finish the fight After 1t had
become apparent that success would crown
Grants arms Gen. Buckner inquired on what
terms he would accept his surrender To
this Grant replied, Unconditional surrender
are my only terms :" and soon afterward
his army took possession of the fort. In
honor of this victory the Sword of Donel-
SON was presented to Gen. Grant by
Messrs. q. w. Graham, c. c. NJ arch, G. w.
Layout and John Cook. IS straight edge Is
etched with military trophies, The pom
mel is decorated with bas-reiefs, TIE grip
of carved ivory and the gold-plated scab
bard is engraved with Grants name and
the names of the donors.
The fourth of Grants swords a Spanish
weapon, was presented to him in 1873 by
the republic of Spain. 1t has a guard OF
steel, ivory grip and steel scabbard. orna-
mented in gold and enamel. On the blade
are inscribed the following words: Bel
mont, Donelson. Shiloh. Vicksburg, Mission
Ridge, Spottsylvania, Richmond. Let US
| have peace. L. s. G. Fabrica de Toledo,
1873 while on the hilt is the inscription,
e pluribus unum.'
There are also on exhibition four swords
concentrating the victories of General
Winfield Scott Hancock. who was espe-
cially conspicuous at the battles of Fred
ericksburg, Charlottesville and Gettys
burg, and the leader of the I'd Army
Corps in the campaign of the Army of the
Potomac. They are "a the regulation
sword, which he carried through the civil
war; 81 the sword of Captain Edward
Johnson, given to him by the citizens of
Virginia for service in Mexico and pre-
scented by Captain Johnson to General
Hancock: 90 the sword which was pre-
scented to him at Yorktown, Va. in 1881
and a. his regulation sword. which he
carried as major general.
Three generations of the Capron family
are represented in the nations collection
of swords. Captain Erastus Allyn Capron
distinguished himself in the Seminole war,
and later served on the Canadian frontier.
In 1S47 he served In the Mexican war and
was engaged In the siege of Vera Cruz and
in the battle of Cerro Gordo. He also
fought In the battles of La Hoya, Okla
Laka and Contreras He was killed at
the battle of Churubusco, August 20, 1St7.
while storming the strongly entrenched
convent, which served as a citadel. His
sword, with white leather baldric and
plate. was deposited in the museum by
his daughter.
Capt. Allyn Capron, his son, who served
with distinction in the Mexican and Sioux
compaigns, went later with General SHAFT
ter to Cuba, and to the Capron battery was
assigned the duty of firing the salute In
honor of the victory at Santiago. He con-
traeted a fever In Cuba, which led to his
death later at Fort Myer, in Virginia.
Many interesting relies of this brave man
are in the National Museum, including his
regulation artillery sword. belt and breast
plate.
Captain Allyn K. Capron. son of Captain
| Allyn and grandson of Captain Erastus
| Allyn. was one of the earliest victims of
| the Spanish war. He enlisted in the cavai-
| ry when nineteen years old and after three
| years was commissioned second lieutenant
| in the 9Th infantry. When the Spanish
| war broke out he was appointed captain