Sword Presented to John R. Brooke
date: label: date made
content: ca 1901
label: associated date
content: 1901-01-14
name: label: recipient
content: Brooke, John Rutter
label: maker
content: Horstmann Brothers & Company
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Presented to Major General John R Brooke by Post 595 G.A.R. and citizens of Pottstown, Pennsylvania on Jan. 14th 1901.
label: Description
content: Born in Pottstown, PA, John R. Brooke served as a brevet Major General in the Civil War. He was wounded at Gettysburg and again at Cold Harbor. He later served in the Indian Wars and the Spanish-American War. He was appointed military governor of Puerto Rico and later, Cuba at the end of the war. This Model 1840 style presentation sword was given to him in 1901 by Post 595 of the G.A.R. , Pottstown, PA.
label: Description
content: The blade is long, straight, diamond shaped, and double edged. It is decorated on both sides in scroll designs and military trophies in gold chasing. The metal grip is mounted with mother of pearl. The grip is wrapped ten times around in a spiral with gilt wire. The cast pommel has a scroll design. The knuckle guard is a thin gold metal strip decorated with oak sprays and large palm leaves. There is a five sided star in the center of the knuckle guard. It terminates in a horn shaped quillon that extends outward. The counterguard bears an eagle holding laurel sprays in front of a large sunburst with stars. The design is surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. The reverse of the counterguard is hinged and features the monogram "JRB" in the center, surrounded by floral and scroll designs.
label: Description
content: The scabbard has three gold metal mounts, all of which are decorated with floral designs. Between the top two mounts is the inscription ” Presented to / MAJOR GENL. JOHN R. BROOKE / by the Citizens and ME Richards Post 595 G.A.R. / Pottstown, Pa. Jan. 14th 1901.” There are three carrying rings on the piece, one on each side of the top mount, and one on the right side of the middle mount. There is a long, thick, gold metal chain that hooks to the top right hand ring and the ring on the middle mount.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
label: presented by
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Pottstown
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: Major General John R. Brooke, U.S. Army
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.22921
label: catalog number
content: 22921
label: accession number
content: 63843
objectType: label: Object Name
content: sword
label: Other Terms
content: Edged Weapons; Presentation
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal, gilt (scabbard material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (blade material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (hilt material)
label: Measurements
content: blade: 31 in x 5/8 in; 78.74 cm x 1.5875 cm
label: Measurements
content: scabbard: 32 7/8 in x 3 in; 83.5025 cm x 7.62 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 38 in x 4 1/2 in; 96.52 cm x 11.43 cm