31.25" single-edged spear point blade, with a 22.5" stopped median fuller. Blade 1.15" wide at ricasso with an overall length of 37.25" 6" hilt with gilt brass guard with US in the face and foliate decorations. Grooved wooden grip covered in shagreen with fifteen wraps of multi-strand wire. Blade deeply etched with foliate motifs, as well as martial and patriotic themes with a large US on the reverse and a spread-winged Eagle on the obverse. The obverse ricasso is etched W.H./HORSTMANN /& SONS/PHILADELPHIA. The spine of the blade is etched IRON PROOF. The sword is a accompanied by its brass mounted, center-seamed leather scabbard. The upper mount is engraved on the obverse: Capt. Ira Ayer/Co. A 116th Regt/N.Y.S.V. above the suspension ring, and Presented by/Senatorial Military Com. below the suspension ring.

Ira Ayer (1802-1889) was 59 years old when he was commissioned captain of Company A, 116th New York Volunteer Infantry on August 12, 1862. He was a veteran of the 1838 "Patriot War" (Upper Canada Rebellion) and had served as the colonel in the 48th New York Militia during that conflict. The 116th NY was organized in Buffalo, NY primarily of Erie County men. The regiment departed for Baltimore in September 1862 and spent part of the fall of that year in operations against J.E.B. Stuart in Pennsylvania. In November the regiment moved to Fortress Monroe and traveled by ship to join Bank's Louisiana Expedition as part of Emery's Brigade, 8th Corps. In January the regiment was reassigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Corps of the Army of the Gulf, and the following month moved to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the same Corps. The regiment took part in the Port Hudson Campaign, seeing combat at Plain's Store and the assault on Port Hudson. On March 1, 1863 Ayer was discharged due to disability.