Sold for $5,700
30.25" single edged spear point blade with 20" stopped median fuller and narrow 15.75" long fuller along the spine. Blade 1.125" wide, 36.25" in overall length, with a 5.875" hilt. Brass foliate themed guard with knuckle bow and grooved wooden grip covered in shagreen with 14 wraps of twisted double strand brass wire. Blade etched with the Ames address in an oval on the obverse near the ricasso. Blade with 18" etched panels with flowing foliate motifs, patriotic and martial themes including panoplies and trophies of arms and a Spread-Winged Eagle in the center of the obverse and a large US in the center of the reverse. The sword is accompanied the Ames marked brass mounted leather scabbard with a center rear seam. The obverse of the upper mount is engraved: Presented to/Lieut. Moses P Palmer/by/His many friends in/Marlborough, Mass./Sept. 1, 1862.
Moses Poore Palmer (1830-1920) was born in Derry, NH and was a 31 year old "manufacturer" when he joined the 13th Massachusetts Infantry as a 1st lieutenant on July 16, 1861. He was commissioned into Company I and served with the regiment through some of the hardest fighting of the war. Their early service put them mostly in western Virginia with service at Harpers Ferry and in the Shenandoah Valley. Their first major engagement was at Boliver Heights, overlooking Harpers Ferry in October of 1861 and they were part of the pursuit of Stonewall Jackson during his Valley Campaign in the spring of 1862. They fought under General Banks at Cedar Mountain and a few days later Palmer was promoted to captain and command of the company on August 15, 1862. The regiment fought under Pope at Thoroughfare Gap and Second Bull Run, where Palmer was wounded. The fall of 1862 saw the 13th Mass engaged against Lee during his invasion of Maryland, fighting at South Mountain and Antietam. That winter they fought during the failed assault on Fredericksburg and participate in the ill-fated "Mud March". 1863 saw the regiment engaged during the spring-summer campaign season at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg on July 1, 1863 Palmer was wounded again, this time in the right knee, a wound that would eventually sideline him for the rest of the war. Palmer was discharged due to his wounds on March 9, 1864. He was promoted to the brevet rank of major on March 13, 1865.
After the war Palmer returned to Massachusetts and was a farmer in Groton, where he was also active in the G.A.R. as a member of Post #115. Palmer died on September 23, 1920 at the age of 90. The sword is accompanied by a large binder of information about Palmer, including copies of service records, images, etc.
Very good. Blade with much of the polish and etching with much of the frosty finish remaining. Metal shows some dulling and lightly scattered age discoloration and minor oxidation. Brass with a rich mustard patina. Grip with some wear to the shagreen with the wire intact and tight. Scabbard with moderate wear, crazing and areas of weakness and showing several creases. The weakest area is just above the drag. The mountings have a rich butterscotch patina and are uncleaned.