711G

HISTORIC PRE-CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION MODEL 1850 FO

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
HISTORIC PRE-CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION MODEL 1850 FO
HISTORIC PRE-CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION MODEL 1850 FOOT OFFICERS SWORD BY AMES TO BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANCIS FESSENDEN OF MAINE. An incredibly important pre-Civil War sword to a very famous Civil War general from Maine given when he was Captain of the Madison City Guards. The sword is a regulation U.S. Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword made by the Ames Manufacturing Co. of Chicopee, Massachusetts and so marked on the ricasso of the blade. The straight, single edged blade measures 30” and appears to have never had an etched decoration. The hilt is of regulation style with a sharkskin wrapped grip with twisted brass wire. The scabbard is of blued steel with brass furniture. The top and middle mounts have a stylized scalloped edge and fancy cast carrying rings. The top mount is engraved Madison City/Guards to Cap’t/Francis Fessenden. Francis Fessenden was born on 18 March 1839 in Portland, Maine. He was the grandson of Gen. Samuel Fessenden. He was graduated at Bowdoin in 1858, became a lawyer, and at the outbreak of the Civil War was appointed a Captain in the 19th U.S. Infantry 14 May 1861. He was on recruiting duty, 1861; commanded a company in the Army of the Cumberland, January to April, 1862; was severely wounded at Shiloh April, 1862; rose to Colonel of the 25th Maine Volunteers 1862-63, and commanded a brigade in the defenses of Washington, D.C. He was then appointed Colonel of the 30th Maine Veteran Volunteer Infantry from September 1863 to May 1864. He was commissioned Brigadier-General of Volunteers, May 10, 1864, and was with Gen. N. P. Banks in the Red River expedition, taking part in the battle of Sabine Cross-Roads, Pleasant Hill and Monett's Bluff. He led the assault and lost a leg at the last-named battle. He was made Major General of Volunteers, Nov. 19, 1865 and commanded the 1st infantry division, department of West Virginia. He was subsequently assigned to the 1st veteran corps. He was on the Wirtz Military Commission from August to October, 1865, president of a court of inquiry, and of a military commission, from November, 1865 to March, 1866 and in the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands in 1866. He declined an appointment to lieutenant-colonel, 45th U.S. infantry, in August 1866. He was transferred to the 28th U.S. Infantry on the reorganization of the army and was retired from the regular army on his own application, Nov. 1, 1866 with the rank of Brigadier-General. He was elected Mayor of Portland, Maine in 1876 and practiced law in that city after his retirement from the army. He was married in 1862 to Ellen Winslow, daughter of Edward Fox of Portland, Maine. This wonderful and simple sword most certainly hung at the side of this Union champion. A notable soldier, wounded in action and from a military family, Fessenden is ranked high among Civil War scholars. CONDITION: Very good. Much of the sword’s orig gilt remains on the brass hilt and the scabbard mounts. Sword blade has been cleaned to a light gray appearance. Sharkskin grip wrap is separated at the seam but is tight with no losses. Scabbard is quite nice with no dents-one screw missing from the drag. From the Collection of the late Allen Graves. 4-54353 (5,000-10,000)