Catalog Auction info Auction #133 - Two-Day Sale, March 26th & 27th (#133) 03/26/2022 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/26/2022 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #1059 Wonderful Collins Statue Hilt Presentation Saber to Brig. Gen. James W. McMillan From the 160th New York Infantry Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$11,495 Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000 Description Description: This is a very ornate and handsome sword, appearing to be an 1850 non-regulation officers sword with straight blade with heavily etched martial panoplies and an extremely ornate chiseled and pierced hilt, with a chiseled-in-relief silver Roman centurion. The blade is 33” long and is straight with a flat center medial, each edge beveled. The obverse etching shows a standing Union infantryman with his rifle-musket, with ornate flowing scroll beneath, above the scroll continues showing a centurion breastplate with shield and fasces, more ornate scroll above this. The reverse showing the Collins & Co. Hartford Connecticut marking with the same scroll, here are Union infantryman bears the Standard of the Union, with more lovely scroll above him and “U.S.” in fancy script, more scroll above this. The blade has been lightly cleaned and is now a dull pewter gray patina with moderate pitting from the foible forward on the obverse and about from the point of percussion forward on the reverse. The heavy guard shows ornate intertwining foliate rococo scroll with a single outer branch culminating in oakleaf and acorn decoration of the knuckle bow, ending at the handle proper with a flow of scroll. The backstrap shows thin incise plain and foliate ribs, culminating in a draped pommel with a spread-winged American Eagle at the buttcap, surmounting a Federal Shield. The most striking feature of the hilt is the grip area which shows a standing Roman centurion of silver, his gaze affixed left, left hand on sword and right on shield which is faced with an image of Medusa. The detail remains intact, the breastplate and bicep having softened only slightly from the years. The scabbard shows a light old polishing and retains much original silver plate, starting to drift and tone to an amber hue in places on the front. The throat is rather simple and lightly engraved while each of the collars show open foliate and geometric engraving with punch dot accenting, the top collar showing chiseled-in-relief fasces and torch, the lower with a Federal Eagle surmounting Federal Shield. There is a rather large tip chape about 5” in length showing open intertwining scroll and foliate decoration with a furled blazon of flags tied with tassel. Between the hanger bands we find the presentation “Brevet Maj. Gen./James W McMillan/from the Enlisted Men of the/160th New York Volunteers/As a Token of Respect/April 1865”, just below the lower collar we find “Conquer We Must/for Our Cause Is Just”. James Winning McMillan, originally a Kentuckian who moved to Illinois, served his country in both the Mexican American and Civil wars. He was appointed Colonel of the 21st Indiana Infantry and was with Butler’s forces during the occupation of New Orleans in 1862, being wounded in the chest at Baton Rouge against Breckenridge’s forces. He was promoted to Brigadier General in November 1862, which gave him command at the brigade, and at times, divisional levels of the XIX Corps under Brigadier General Emory from March 1863 to May 1864. He was in the Red River campaign and active most notably at the battles of Mansfield and Monett's Ferry, the latter where he and the rest of the 1st division held a steady line rallying on in spite of the near panicked union retreat. After this action XIX Corps joined Gen. Philip Sheridan’s army of the Shenandoah, there being wounded during the Battle of Winchester when a shell fragment hit him in the head. Later he would engage in the repulse of Jubal Early’s assault on Washington and later his pursuit after the rout of Early’s forces. Interestingly, the 160th New York was present at all of these engagements, clearly under the command of McMillan in XIX Corps at one point or other, one very notable historical entry during the Third Battle of Winchester: “Upton sent Colonel Mackenzie and the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment past the XIX Corps regiments to a rail fence where they fired upon Gordon's right flank. They received unexpected assistance when Brigadier General James W. McMillan from Dwight's 1st Division of the XIX Corps arrived with the 160th New York Infantry Regiment, and deployed on Mackenzie's right flank. This caused Gordon's men to retreat, and Thoburn's men leapt the wall and attacked.” McMillan was brevetted Maj. Gen. on March 5 of 1865 in recognition of his Civil War service and resigned from the Army in May of that year, clearly this sword presented by adoring men that he once commanded just after that promotion. There is a very small soldered repair through the thin web at the base of the knuckle guard where the sword knot would attach, and another very small soldered repair midway down that same guard, neither are unobtrusive and are missed at first glance. A very stunning Collins & Co. sword, nearly never seen with such an ornate chiseled-in-relief martial hilt of such quality, presented to a gallant officer by hard-fighting men under his command. (3G10250-61) [Peter Tillou Collection] (5000/7000) Categories: Edged Weapon Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. 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