Sword Presented to John Porter Hatch
date: label: date made
content: ca 1862
label: date presented
content: 1862-10-31
name: label: recipient
content: Hatch, John Porter
label: maker
content: W. Clauberg
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Presented to Brigadier General John P. Hatch by Officers of the 5th New York and 1st Vermont Cavalry on October 31st, 1862
label: Description
content: John Porter Hatch was a West Point graduate and career Army officer. He was in command of a division when he was wounded at the Battle of South Mountain in September, 1862. He received a Medal of Honor for his conduct during the battle. The inscription on this sword indicates it was presented for the same action.
label: Description
content: The blade of this sword is long, slightly curved, and single-edged. The fuller is broad and shallow, and extends about three quarters of the way to the top of the blade. The blade is heavily pitted, especially near the base, but the silver chasing decorations on both sides are still fairly visible. On the reverse, military trophies and a "US" monogram are visible, along with a group of floral sprays. The obverse is similarly decorated without a monogram. The grip of the sword is cylindrical, and is covered in engravings of scroll designs. On the obverse is a medallion with an eagle and a banner reading "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and on the reverse there is a blank medallion. The pommel of the sword is vase shaped, and covered with laurel leaves and a basic tile pattern. The knuckle guard is a gold metal strip that branches off in two places. These branches form the counterguard, which features the two additional strips of metal connected by scroll and floral castings and a "US" monogram. All of this terminates in a scroll shaped quillon.
label: Description
content: The scabbard is painted and has three mounts. Each mount is gold with a silver medallion in the center. The medallion on the top features an eagle with an "E PLURIBUS UNUM" banner. The medallion on the second mount features an image of Columbia, and the bottom medallion features an engraving of a classical figure. All of these medallions are surrounded by scroll designs. The inscription on the reverse of the top mount reads “TO / Brigr. Genl. J.P. Hatch, / from / Officers of the 5th New York / and 1st Vermont Cavalry / Oct. 31st 1862.” There are two carrying rings, one on the right side of the top and middle mounts.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Germany: North Rhine-Westphalia, Solingen
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: Mark Burckle Hatch
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.16027
label: catalog number
content: 16027
label: accession number
content: 59476
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: 33 1/4 in x 1 1/8 in; 84.455 cm x 2.8575 cm
label: Measurements
content: scabbard: 34 1/4 in x 2 in; 86.995 cm x 5.08 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 39 1/2 in x 5 3/4 in; 100.33 cm x 14.605 cm