30" slightly curved single-edged spear point blade, 36" in overall length. 6" hilt with gilt brass guard, leather covered grooved wooden grip and fifteen wraps of twisted wire. Unmarked as to maker or retailer. Plain blade without etching. The sword is accompanied by its brass mounted leather scabbard with an old, very faded paper label on the obverse between the throat and upper mount that appears to read: Sword belonging to/Capt. Julius M/Ellendorf/Co A 42nd NY. An officer's gold bullion sword knot is attached to the hilt. A binder of information about Ellendorf, primarily copies of his available service records, is included.

Julius M. Ellendorf was 21 years old when he enlisted in the 42nd New York Volunteer Infantry as a sergeant on June 22, 1861. He was mustered into Company D and like most of these early war regiments the "Tammany Regiment" as the 42nd was known was initially sent to the defenses of Washington. Their first action was at Ball's Bluff that October from which the moved to Harpers Ferry. The regiment was part of the Peninsula Campaign, fighting at the Siege of Yorktown and Seven Pines before seeing combat during the Seven Days before Richmond. The regiment was engaged at Antietam during the Maryland Campaign and Fredericksburg at the end of the year. 1863 started with the Mud March in January and on February 12 Ellendorf was promoted to 2nd lieutenant, having previously being raised to 1st sergeant of company D and was transferred to company H. On April 3 he was promoted again, this time to 1st lieutenant. During much of this period he served as the acting regimental adjutant and was finally officially placed in that position. The regiment fought during the Chancellorsville campaign and at Gettysburg. The regiment saw additional service during the end of 1863, including the Mine Run Campaign. 1864 brought Grant's Overland Campaign with fighting at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. On June 4, 1864 Ellendorf was wounded at Cold Harbor and was discharged on July 13. On July 20 he was commissioned into the Field & Staff of the 93rd New York Infantry as their regimental adjutant and was mustered out on November 1, 1864. His pension reports noted that during his service he suffered a rupture in the right groin and a wound in the ankle.