Sold for $3,900
30.75" single-edged slightly curved spear point blade with a 22.25" stopped central fuller and a 13" narrow fuller along the spine. Blade is 1.125" wide at the ricasso and the overall length of the sword is 36.5" with a 6" hilt. Gilt cast brass guard with floral decorations. Grooved wood grip covered in shagreen with 15 wraps of twisted wire. Obverse of blade etched at the ricasso W.H. / Horstmann / & Sons / PHILADELPHIA. Spine etched IRON PROOF. Blade with 18" acid etched panels with flowing foliate scrolls, patriotic and martial themes, a {Spread-Winged Eagle} with a ribbon reading E Pluribus Unum surmounting a {Spread-Winged Eagle} as the central image on the obverse and a large US as the central image on the reverse. The sword is accompanied by hits shagreen covered brass mounted leather scabbard with two suspension rings. The obverse of the upper mount is engraved Presented to/Lieut. James J Reeves/ CO H 24TH Regt N.J. Vol./by his sister Ellie/1862. A CDV of Reeves accompanies the sword, showing him seated in a studio setting with the period inked ID on the reverse that reads Lieut. Reeves/24th Regiment/N Jersey Volunteers/1863. The CDV has a Brady's National Portrait Gallery backmark.
James J Reeves (1839-1907) was an attorney who was six days shy of his 23rd birthday when he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the US volunteers on September 3, 1862. He was mustered into Company H of 24th New Jersey on September 16th. The 24th NJ was assigned to the 1st Brigade 3rd Division of the 2nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac and saw their first combat at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Here the regiment was heavily mauled, like much of the Army of the Potomac and suffered some 160 casualties. Among those was Lt. Reeves who was wounded in the left arm above the elbow. The regiment was next engaged the following spring at Chancellorsville in May where they suffered minimal casualties by comparison, with only 36 killed, wounded or missing. However, Reeves was again among the injured, being shot in the left hand with the ball entering at the wrist and exiting at the thumb. As the 24th NJ was only a 9-month regiment, they were mustered out of service on June 29, 1863. Reeves returned to his pre-war law career and died at the age of 68 on September 20, 1907.
The sword is accompanied by a large binder of research regarding Reeves and his service, including copies of his service records, his wife's widow's pension application, unit history information, images, etc.
Good to very good. Blade with a mostly dull pewter patina and retaining most of the etching. The blade shows some scattered oxidation and discoloration as well as some minor wear and some loss to the etching. The blade shows some lightly scattered pinpricking and minor pitting as well as some nicks and chips along the cutting edge. Hilt with some of the gilt remaining, grip wrap with moderate wear and some some surface finish loss. Twisted brass wire intact. Leather throat washer in place. Scabbard with moderate wear to the shagreen covering with areas of loss and some old glued repairs, primarily on the reverse. Scabbard with some bends and creases and areas of weakness. Mounts with traces of gilt finish, showing wear and some dings and marks. CVD good to very good.