Sold for $5,700

34.5" single edged curved blade with slightly rounded spine and 26" stopped median fuller. Blade 1.08" wide at ricasso. Overall length 41" with a 6" hilt. Brass guard with two branches, knuckle bow and Phrygian helmet pommel cap. Grooved wood grip covered in leather and with twelve wraps of twisted wire. Obverse ricasso dated 1860, reverse ricasso with Ames "scroll" marking reading MADE BY/AMES MFG. CO./Chicopee. No inspection marks are present on the blade, pommel cap or scabbard drag. Reverse of knuckle bow is engraved in two lines: To Capt. L.F. Chapman Co E 28H Regt. PV by Col. J.W. Geary/At Edward's Ferry Oct. 22, 1861. The sword is accompanied by its lap seamed steel scabbard with two suspension rings. A large binder of information about Chapman and his service accompanies the sword.

Lansford Foster Chapman (1834-1863) was 26 years old when he joined the 28th PA Volunteer Infantry on June 25, 1861 and was commissioned the captain of Company E on July 6, 1861. The regiment was raised by Pennsylvania businessman, politician and Mexican War hero James W Geary. The regiment was initially assigned to George H Thomas' Brigade, Department of the Shenandoah and moved via Baltimore to Harpers Ferry. From there it went to Point of Rocks to guard the frontier from Nolan's Ferry to the Antietam Aqueduct. The first major combat for the regiment came at Thoroughfare Gap on April 2, 1862, although the regiment had been involved in some minor engagements prior to this, including some of operations in and around Loudon County in Northern Virginia. The regiment was reassigned to Bank's 5th Corps in March prior to the April fight and was reassigned to the 2nd Corps in June.

The summer saw the 28th PA involved in Pope's Northern Virginia Campaign, including fighting at 2nd Manassas. In September the regiment was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Corps Army of the Potomac and took part in the Maryland Campaign, fighting at Antietam where the regiment captured two guns and five flags, with a loss of 266 men. The regiment missed the fighting at Fredericksburg but partook in the infamous "Mud March" in January of 1863. On January 22, 1863 Chapman was promoted to major. The regiment fought at Chancellorsville during that campaign and was heavily involved along the Plank Road on May 1 and 2. On May 3, the line the 28th PA was part of was heavily attacked and started to retreat and the regiment was ordered to fall back as well. General Geary, their division commander and original colonel ordered them to retake the earthworks the regiment had abandoned the regiment tried to with multiple charges, with Major Chapman who was in command of the regiment leading the charges. On the third attempt Chapman was killed. His body was not recovered until after the war, by Geary himself.

A presentation sword of General Geary's, captured from the Mexicans at Chapultepec, is also included in this sale. The presentation on this sword appears to refer to some skirmishing that took place during their duty in around Edwards Ferry in part of the Ball's Bluff campaign. The fact that the sword is a commercial (not US military inspected) 1860 dated Ames Light Cavalry Saber suggests that this may have been part of the pre-war order of cavalry sabers by the state of Virginia from Ames. Thus, this sword was likely captured or recovered during the skirmishing and then presented by Colonel Geary to Captain Chapman after the event.