LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 December Civil War Auction #674  / 

72244

GENERAL WINDER PRESENTATION SWORD

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:312,500.00 USD Estimated At:400,000.00 - 500,000.00 USD
GENERAL WINDER PRESENTATION SWORD
<B>CONFEDERATE BOYLE & GAMBLE STAFF & FIELD OFFICER’S SWORD PRESENTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN H. WINDER IN RICHMOND JULY 15, 1864.</B></I><BR> Unquestionably one of the most historically significant and impeccably provenanced Confederate general officer’s swords extant, presented to one of the Confederacy’s most notorious and controversial personalities. John Henry Winder was born in Somerset County, Maryland, February 21, 1800 and graduated from West Point at the age of twenty. He was later an instructor of tactics there when Jefferson Davis was a cadet. Resigning in 1823, he was reappointed to the army four years later, and was brevetted major and lieutenant colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct during the Mexican War. He resigned his commission as major in the 3rd US Artillery at the outbreak of hostilities on April 27, 1861, was appointed brigadier general in the Provisional Confederate Army on June 21, and made provost marshal of the city of Richmond. This office made him not only responsible for the prison camps in the vicinity, but also for the arrest and return of deserters, and for the maintenance of order in a city swelled to more than twice its normal size by the war. During one period, the responsibility for the fixing of commodity prices for the inhabitants also devolved upon him. On November 21, 1864 he assumed the duties of commissary general of prisoners east of the Mississippi. His earlier police powers had made him generally unpopular in Richmond. However, the opprobrium heaped upon him by loyal Confederates was nothing compared to the execrations of the Northern press and public, who accused him of deliberately starving Union prisoners of war. The charges were utterly without foundation. Winder adopted every means at his disposal to assure that the prisoners received the same ration as Confederate soldiers in the field, scanty as that allotment was. His task was rendered almost impossible by the refusal of the federal government to affect an exchange. Weighed down by the fatigue and anxiety of his duties he died a Florence, South Carolina on February 7, 1865 and is buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore. Doubtless, only his death before the end of the war prevented his eventual trial and execution at the hands of Federal authorities along with Henry Wirz.<BR><BR>The sword was described in an article in the <I>Richmond Daily Dispatch</B></I> dated 23 July 1863 (a copy of which accompanies the sword) entitled “Beautiful Work Of Art”: “We were shown yesterday a sword to be presented to Gen. John Winder, the blade of which is ornamented in a superior style of art. On one side is a design composed of scroll work relieved by fruit and flowers most gracefully and artistically arranged, and on the reverse is the inscription, “To Gen. J. H. Winder, from his friends, Richmond, July 15, 1864”. Underneath are the flags of the Confederacy and Maryland, with appropriate designs. It is the work of Mr. Harry A. McArdle, a young artist who is engaged as draughtsman in one of the departments in this city”.<BR><BR>The chain of ownership of this magnificent sword is unbroken from the date of its capture by Lt. Isaac D. Landis, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, thence given to his grandson I. Landis Haines in the early 1920s. Possession relinquished to Mr. J. H. Briefer on April 5, 1956, and acquired from his widow Mrs. Geraldine H. Briefer by Norm Flayderman of Greenwich, Connecticut, April 17, 1961. By purchase of Dave Mark, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, January 26, 1988, from whom Mr. Tharpe acquired the sword. It is important to note that these were all discreet private transactions and that this sword has NEVER before been publicly offered for sale. Included with the sword, of course are all of the original affadavits, notarized letters, and statements which verify this chain of ownership. Additionally there are a number of wartime documents pertinent to Landis. Included in the original notarized letter from I. Landis Haines of April 5, 1956, along with a detailed description of the sword is the statement that “Although my grandfather told me in the early 1920s how he came in possession of this sword, I have since forgotten the details, remembering only that it was obtained by him during Sherman’s “March to the Sea” through Georgia.” Subsequent to Landis joining the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry in July of 1864 the regiment was engaged in Tennessee until joining Sherman at Marietta in November. The regiment entered South Carolina in late January 1865 (Winder died on Feb. 7, 1865 at Florence, S. C.) at Sister’s Ferry marching through Robertsville and Barnwell to Blackville on the Charleston and Augusta Railroad where it encountered a portion of Wheeler’s command and following the Augusta Railroad through Polecat Ponds to Columbia. It is highly probable that Landis acquired the sword during this campaign, serving with the regiment until its muster out in July 1865.<BR><BR>The accompanying photographs require little embellishment. The 34.5” curved blade retains most of the original mint luster. Exquisitely etched with hand engraved highlights, “Boyle & Gamble” in an etched panel on the face of the obverse ricasso. Etching and engraving superior to that normally encountered on Boyle & Gamble’s blades but unquestionably and distinctively their hand. The etched inscription being in a floral/ scroll bordered panel on the reverse of the blade. The uniquely Boyle & Gamble hilt incorporates the guard of a US staff and field officer’s sword from which a small piece of the U has been skillful removed to form the C, a detail noted on several Boyle & Gamble staff swords. The pommel cap itself is of Boyle & Gamble manufacture. Black leather wrapped grip with twisted brass wire bordered by single strand brass wire, perfect. The original steel scabbard with superb untouched dark smooth patina. Heavy brass throat and scallop edged brass mounts with brass carrying rings. A couple of shallow dents on the bottom mount and notable wear on the bottom of the drag clearly showing it was carried and used extensively by Winder. All brass with pleasing light patina. <BR><BR>A Confederate sword of immeasurable historical importance, and, profoundly moving when recognizing the tragedy and suffering to which it doubtless bore witness, representing a rare opportunity in the annals of Civil War collecting.<BR><B><BR>Provenance:</B></I> <I>From The Tharpe Collection of American Military History.</B></I><BR><BR><B>Exhibited: </B></I>Liberty Heritage Museum<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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