Sword Presented to A. H. Foster
date: label: date made
content: ca 1862
label: date presented
content: 1862
name: label: recipient
content: Foster, Albert H.
label: maker
content: Ames Manufacturing Company
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Presented to Captain A.H. Foster by Company D of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteers Regiment on February 8, 1862.
label: Description
content: Albert H Foster mustered in as a Captain of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment on Oct. 12, 1861. He mustered out on Oct. 20, 1864.
label: Description
content: The blade of this Model 1850 presentation sword is single edged and slightly curved. There is a broad, shallow fuller on three quarters of the blade. Floral designs and military trophies decorate both sides. There is an eagle on the obverse and a "US" monogram on the reverse. The shark skin grip is wrapped 14 times with a thin gold metal wire. The counterguard is an ornate sculpture of three parallel gold strips connected with floral sprays and laurel leaves and a “US” monogram. The reverse of the counterguard is a small gold ova. The quillon is a basic solid spiral decorated with a palm leaf engraving on the front.
label: Description
content: The scabbard is gold plated and has two simple, thin gold mounts decorated with laurel leaves. Between the mounts are ornate scroll designs and the inscription “Presented to / Capt. A. H. Foster Co. D. 25 REG. Mass. Vo. / BY / HIS COMPANY / As a token of their regard and esteem for him. / and for his bravery at the battle of Roanoke. / Feb. 8th 1862.” Between the second mount and the drag, there is a complex military trophy and floral spray engraving. The reverse of the scabbard bears no decoration. The scabbard has two carrying rings—one on the right side of the top mount, and the other on the right side of the middle mount.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Massachusetts, Chicopee
label: referenced
content: United States: Virginia, Roanoke
topic: label: Subject
content: Edged Weapons
label: web subject
content: Civil War
label: related event
content: Civil War
setName: label: See more items in
content: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
label: See more items in
content: Military
label: See more items in
content: Civil War Presentation Swords
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Mrs. R. A. Foster
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.5836
label: catalog number
content: 5836
label: accession number
content: 24418
objectType: label: Object Name
content: sword
label: Other Terms
content: Army; Staff Officer; Field Grade Officer; Officer; Presentation
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal: gilt (scabbard material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (hilt material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (blade material)
label: Physical Description
content: shark skin (grip material)
label: Measurements
content: scabbard: 33 1/4 in x 2 1/4 in; 84.455 cm x 5.715 cm
label: Measurements
content: blade: 32 1/4 in x 1 1/8 in; 81.915 cm x 2.8575 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 38 1/2 in x 4 3/4 in; 97.79 cm x 12.065 cm