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 #1060 Exceptional Ornate W.H. Horstmann & Sons U.S. Model 1850 Officers Sword Presented to Lieutenant Heber Thompson 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$7,865 Estimate: $8,000 - $10,000 Description Description: This is an extremely ornate Horstmann presentation sword with beautiful hilt and highly decorated scabbard and deeply etched blade. The 35 1/2” blade features a wide single stopped and a narrow unstopped fuller and remains brilliant its full length with deeply etched martial panoplies on the obverse, with the WH Horstmann & Sons Philadelphia marking at the ricasso with the King’s Head Weyersberg trademark impressed, the reverse shows the same brilliant deep etching. There is light foliate etching along the spine, the ricasso marked “iron proof”. There are a few very sparsely scattered spots of light oxidation staining here and there and one 1” area of light pitting on the reverse side of the blade at the tip. The hilt itself is nothing short of spectacular, showing a wide cupped guard with spread-winged Federal Eagle with olive branches and acanthus leaf rococo relief decoration, continuing onto the dual branches; the knucklebow similarly embellished. The backstrap has fine floral overlay up its spine with the pommel culminating in a grotesque cap, all this exhibiting nearly all of its original gilt. The shagreen grip rates excellent with a single braided wire wrap flanked on both sides by dual simple gold wire. The scabbard shows a strong plum-browned finish, with simple gilt throat, and brass hanger bands with ornate rococo scroll appliqués with patriotic vignette at the center of each, a Federal Eagle atop shield with “e pluribus unum” in riband at the top hanger, with a standing Columbia with sword and Federal Shield on the lower, she leaning on a column with spiral riband reading “Liberty & Union”. Between the two we find an oval presentation plaque affixed “Presented to/Lieut. Heber S. Thompson/by the Members of Co. F/7th P. V. Cavalry August 1st, 1862”. The tip chape as well is about 6” long with ornate appliqués showing lady justice with her scales at the center vignette, oakleaf decoration intertwining from the tip proper at-which there is a gilt acorn. The vignettes show a bit of wear as do the collars but the appliqués show a good deal of original gilt present. Included with the sword is what is likely Heber’s red officers sash. The sash is coarsely woven and is about 8” wide when laid out flat, measuring roughly 10’ end-to-end, showing a few spots of discoloration, a number of which appear to be actual blood staining. The tassels on each end remain very good showing some light wear to the burgundy external thread, exposing a beige-colored textile beneath. Heber Samuel Thompson of Pottsville Pennsylvania enlisted in October 1861 as a First Lieut., commissioned into Co. F of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry. He would be promoted to Captain in July 1863 and captured when his horse was shot from under him at the Battle of Lovejoy Station in Georgia during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign in August 1864. He details the action at Lovejoy in his diary: “The ball struck my mare full in the breast, when she reared up on her hind legs and fell over backwards dead. I extricated myself from the saddle and started for the rebel rear. Here, however, I came upon about a dozen rebels. Turning back, I had gone but a few steps before several bullets came whistling close by me. At the same time, three or four Rebels, ordered me to halt. Looking around, I saw I was surrounded by Rebels, and so surrendered at discretion." The 7th Pennsylvania cavalry was in the thick of many fights during the war, detailing them all here would fill pages, this valiant officer was present at all until the time he was captured. Indeed he received accolades for his bravery at the battles of Sparta, McMinnville, Shelbyville, Chickamauga, and Lovejoy Station, one regimental account of him sums his character up rather well: “Lieutenant Heber S. Thompson led the first charge of his regiment in his usual gallant style.". Heber was actually offered a promotion to major but declined the promotion and resigned, mustering out January 24, 1865. Postwar he would become an author with a volume entitled “The First Defenders” his regiment being among the first five to arrive at Washington DC, and there is a diary of his listed online detailing his experiences in Confederate captivity, which can be reviewed as well. Back home in Pottsville, Pennsylvania he had a hardware store with his brother for a period of time and then earned a Masters from Yale in 1871 and concentrated on civil and mining engineering, also becoming director and president of the Miners’ National Bank of Pottsville and director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Railways Co. An absolutely lovely sword presented to this gallant officer, who served his country and regiment faithfully, luckily being paroled and surviving to prosper. (3K10250-60,81) [Peter Tillou Collection] (8,000/10,000) 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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