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Non-Regulation Civil War Staff Officer’s Sword Carried by Brevet Brigadier General Nathan Goff, Jr.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Non-Regulation Civil War Staff Officer’s Sword Carried by Brevet Brigadier General Nathan Goff, Jr.

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Auction Date:2013 Jul 25 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Non-Regulation Civil War staff officer’s sword carried by Brevet Brigadier General Nathan Goff, Jr., who at the War’s end commanded the 37th Regiment United States Colored Infantry. Nathan Goff, Jr., was commissioned as a Captain in G. Company of the Rhode Island 2nd Infantry on June 5, 1861. While he was with this regiment he participated in the battles of Bull Run, the Peninsula Campaign, Yorktown, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. He was promoted to major on July 24, 1862. On December 31, 1863, he was discharged from the 2nd R. I. Infantry to be commissioned the same day as a lt. colonel on the staff of the 22nd Infantry United States Colored Troops. With the 22nd he was wounded on June 15, 1864, at Petersburg, Virginia. On November 11, 1864, he was discharged from the 22nd and on the same day commissioned as colonel commanding the 37th Regiment United States Colored Troops. With the 37th, Goff participated in the campaigns against Fort Fisher and Wilmington, N. C., in December 1864. On March 13, 1865 Goff was promoted to brigadier general by brevet.

This sword was popular during the Civil War and is known to collectors as Peterson’s No. 75, from his book The American Sword. It has a lightly curved 32.5? blade etched on both sides with floral scrolls in panels, the obverse also has a large “U. S.,” and the reverse a spread winged eagle with a riband that reads “E. PLURIBUS UNUM.” The obverse ricasso has the standing knight trademark of “W. CLAUBERG/SOLINGEN”; the obverse ricasso has an inset disc bearing the word “PROVED” at the center of the faintly etched name of the American retailer who imprinted this sword, “HORSTMANN/&SONS/PHILADELPHIA.” The steel guard is pierced with a large finely engraved spread winged eagle and shield device over the letters “U. S.” with a banner that reads, “E. PLURIBUS UNUM” on top. The blade has a mixed gray patina with minor pinprick pitting at the tip, no nicks and all of the etched panels clear. The steel guard and backstrap have a dark patina with the bottom of the guard lightly cleaned to reveal all of the details on the eagle device. The grip is missing some of the wire binding and about 20% of the shark skin wrapping. The steel scabbard has a dark patina on one side and has been lightly cleaned on the other. It has only one small dent.

The sword is accompanied by a handwritten document from Dr. Nathan Goff, D. D. attesting that this “sword was carried by my great, great, great grandfather Brigadier General Nathan Goff, Jr. The sword has been in the Nathan Goff family since General Goff’s death and was passed on to me by my father prior to his death.” This document is dated August 17, 2007. Also included are numerous pages of internet research on General Goff and on the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, the U. S. C. T. 22nd Infantry, and the U. S. C. T. 37th Infantry.