Sword Presented to George B. McClellan
date: label: date made
content: 1863
label: date given
content: 1863
label: associated date
content: 1863 02 05
name: label: recipient
content: McClellan, George B.
label: maker
content: Palmer, Bachelders & Co.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: Presented to Major General George McClellan by the citizens of Boston on February 5th, 1863
label: Description
content: The blade of this sword is long, straight, and double edged. Both sides of the blade are decorated with trophy, floral, and scroll designs. The grip of the sword is gold plated, and is covered with rows of laurel leaves. The grip also has three bands covered in pearls. Two of the bands intersect in the middle, and the other wraps around the top, right below the pommel. The pommel is globular and covered in gold oak leaves. A large stone or gem is missing from the pommel. The knuckle guard is a gold plated strip of laurel leaves. The counterguard is double shell shaped. The top of the counterguard is corrugated. The knuckle guard terminates in a round quillon with palm leaf designs.
label: Description
content: The scabbard has three gold mounts. The top mount has two angels holding a shield surrounded with floral and scroll designs on the obverse. Between the mounts is the inscription “TO / Major General George B. McClellan. / from many / Citizens of / BOSTON / February / 5th 1863. / Pro rege saepe, pro patria simper.” The middle mount has a medieval casque surrounded by two small angels and floral and scroll designs. The drag features the profile view of a goddess' head, along with some more floral designs. There are three carrying rings on the scabbard, one on each 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, Boston
label: made in; presented at
content: United States: Massachusetts, Boston
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: Hon. George B. McClellan
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.17419
label: catalog number
content: 17419
label: accession number
content: 61384
objectType: label: Object Name
content: case, sword
label: Object Name
content: Sword
label: Object Name
content: sword
label: Other Terms
content: Sword; case, sword; Edged Weapons; Presentation
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (blade material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal, steel (blade material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal, gilt (?? material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (hilt material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal, gilt (scabbard material)
label: Measurements
content: blade: 32 in x 1 1/8 in; 81.28 cm x 2.8575 cm
label: Measurements
content: scabbard: 34 1/2 in x 2 3/4 in; 87.63 cm x 6.985 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 39 in x 6 1/2 in; 99.06 cm x 16.51 cm