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INSCRIBED SWORD AND CARTE DE VISITE PHOTOGRAPH OF

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
INSCRIBED SWORD AND CARTE DE VISITE PHOTOGRAPH OF
INSCRIBED SWORD AND CARTE DE VISITE PHOTOGRAPH OF CAPTAIN A.L. TURNER 1ST, 10TH AND 29TH MAINE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. The sword is a regulation US Model 1850 Foot Officer's sword with a 30-1/4 blade lightly curved and sgl-edged. The sword is unsigned. Etching once covered approx. 60% of the surface. The hilt is of regulation style of cast brass. The grip is of wood covered in sharkskin and bound with dbl strand twisted brass wire. Scabbard is steel with two carrying rings and a separately applied steel throat. On the back of the pommel is stamped in letters barely measuring 1/16" high "Capt. A. L. Turner". CONDITION: Blade has been severely cleaned, eliminating all but a trace of the etching. Portions of one side of the blade have deep and heavy pitting with spotty pitting on the reverse. Hilt is not cleaned, and grip is very good with wear on the high spots. Scabbard has been cleaned to a bright gray appearance. Accompanying the sword is an orig carte de visite photograph of Captain Turner in uniform being a bust view wearing a frock coat and vest. Photograph is back marked "E.H. McKenney/No. 1 Washington Block,/Biddeford, Me." with a two cent revenue stamp. Alfred L. Turner was born in Canada on September 3, 1837. He entered service as a private but was appointed sergeant of Company B 1st Maine Infantry (90 days). This 90-day unit occupied the defenses of Washington, D.C. until the expiration of their term. He reentered service as2nd Lt. Co. B 10th Maine Volunteer Inf. on October 4, 1861. He would have promotions to 1st Lt. on July 31, 1862 and Capt. and Co. Commander on October 25, 1862. The 10th Maine left for Baltimore on November 4, 1861 going to Relay and Harper's Ferry, guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. They participated in the following engagements: Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Pope's Campaign, and Antietam (where Turner was wounded while possibly carrying this sword), after which they were ordered to the rear to muster out on April 27, 1862. Captain Turner entered service once again as the captain of Company F, 29th Maine Vol. Inf. organized at Augusta, Maine. This unit began their service fighting in the Red River Campaign and continued with engagements Sabine Crossroads, Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, Opequan, Winchester, & Cedar Creek, after which they went to Washington, D.C. for provost duty and participated in the Grand Review. Because their term of service had not expired by the time of Lee's surrender, this unit moved south to Hilton Head and the regiment was mustered out June 21, 1866. A copy of the original regimental history and Turner's muster-out papers accompany this lot. 4-57352 CW79 (3,500-4,500)"