LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 Dec Signature Civil War Auction #642  / 

25519

An Officer's Presentation Sword - Layne

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
An Officer's Presentation Sword - Layne
<B>An Officer's Presentation Sword with etched blade, presented to Lieutenant Alexander C. Layne of the Virginia State Guards, the "Stonewall Brigade" - Gettysburg to Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Court House.</B></I> This is a beautifully etched presentation blade by Ames Manufacturing Company, the most famous of American cutlers during the 19th century. It is silver-hilted with an eagle pommel and cross guard and a beautifully etched presentation blade inscribed as follows, "Presented to Lieut. A.C. Layne as a token of esteem by the members of the Virginia State Guards, Richmond, October 19, 1862." It is an extremely rare Ames etched presentation sword given to a Virginia officer who most certainly carried it throughout the Civil War when he served in the Virginia Confederate Light Artillery, Captain Montgomery's company.<BR><BR>Layne surrendered and was on the list of paroled prisoners of Cutshaw's Battalion when Lee surrendered the Confederate Army at Appomattox Court House. An absolutely superb sword with its original gilt scabbard, 31" straight double-edged etched blade, it is one of the finest Virginia presentation swords in existence. Layne was wounded during the Battle of Sharpsburg on September 17, 1862. In November of that year, he was in the line of battle near Ashby's Gap under the command of Lieutenant Sandy Pendelton. He marched with Stonewall Jackson's corps to join General Longstreet at Fredricksburg where his artillery, once again under the command of Sandy Pendelton, was engaged in battle. Several of the Virginia Light Artillery were wounded or killed in action. During the battle of Chancellorsville, they fired 750 rounds of ammunition under the command of General John Pegram.<BR><BR>On the morning of July 1, 1863, the Virginia Light Artillery marched for Gettysburg with Rhodes' division and joined the battle at one o'clock in the afternoon. The battery sustained heavy losses with thirty men killed or wounded that day. During the battle of Spotsylvania most of the battery was lost or captured, resulting in their reassignment to Fry's Battery under Major Cutshaw. The unit surrendered with Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. This is a remarkable and historically important sword carried by one of Virginia's finest. Complete with a research archive, the sword comes from the noted William Turner collection. <BR><BR>Authentication: Steve Hess.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Large Collectibles (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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