I've been doing this for over 30 years and this is a set of sword like I have never been able to offer before. This is a wonderful pair of Ames Presentation Swords that were presented to Lieutenant Henry Ward (Later Captain) 57th Mass Infantry. He had an amazing and valiant service history that included being wounded in action at the battles of Antietam, Spotsylvania & Petersburg, POW Petersburg & after the Civil War while serving his country in the Philippine Insurrection. The first sword is an original Civil War, U.S. Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword. It is crafted with a 30 inch slightly curved single-edged spear point blade, and measures 36 inches in overall length. The 6 inch hilt has the pretty gilt brass hand guard, and the grooved wooden grip is covered with sharkskin and thirteen wraps of twisted wire. This one has some of the Ames markings etched on base of the back of the blade. The blade also has flowing foliate, patriotic and martial themes etched on both sides. It is accompanied by the original brass mounted steel scabbard with Ames markings. On the reverse of the upper mount it is beautifully engraved "Presented to/Lieut. H.C. Ward/Co. G 57th Reg. M.V./by his Friends/Worcester, Mar. 28/1864." The other sword is a knockout! It is a custom made U.S. Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword. This one has the 30-1/2 inch slightly curved single-edged spear point blade. It measures 36-1/4th inches in overall length. It has the 6 inch hilt with the beautiful gilt cast brass guard, and it as well has the original grooved wooden grip covered in sharkskin with fifteen wraps of multi-strand twisted wire. The blade has the clear Ames etching on the obverse near the ricasso with the blade decorated with rich foliate scrolls, patriotic and martial themes. The sword is accompanied by its Ames marked engraved gilt brass scabbard with chased classically themed mounts. The top mount has the Medusa head design. The front side of the scabbard between the upper and middle mounts is engraved, "Presented to Lieut./H.C. Ward/By the members/of Co. G 57th Mass Vet. Vols. April 1864." The sword is accompanied by an officer's gilt sword knot and a large binder of information about Ward, as well as a framed copy of an image of him. Henry Clay Ward was an 18 year old mechanic when he enlisted as a private in Company D of the 15th Mass Infantry on July 21, 1861. He served with the 15th Mass through September 4, 1863 when he resigned. During that time he fought with the regiment through their campaigns, including the battles of Ball's Bluff, Siege of Yorktown, Seven Pines, the Seven Days, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill, all by July 1, 1862. The regiment fought at Antietam on September 16-17, 1862 and Ward was wounded during that battle. The regiment ended 1862 by fighting at Fredericksburg. In 1863, the regiment participated in the Mud March, the Chancellorsville Campaign, and saw additional fighting at Mayre's Heights, Salem Heights and Gettysburg. During 1863 Ward was promoted to sergeant on February 26 and 2nd lieutenant of Company F on March 14. He resigned his commission on September 4, 1863. On March 9, 1864 he accepted a commission as a 1st lieutenant in Company G of the newly organized 57th Mass Infantry, which was officially mustered into service on April 6. Their first campaign was along the Rapidan River to the James River and they fought at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania in May and Cold Harbor in June. At Spotsylvania Ward was wounded again. Mid-June saw the regiment before Petersburg, where Ward was wounded for the third time on June 17. The regiment was involved at the Battle of the Crater on July 30 and on July 31 he was promoted to Captain and transferred to Company K. The balance of the year was spent in and around Petersburg seeing siege duty and fighting minor actions at Weldon Railroad and Poplar Grove Church. On March 25, 1865 the regiment was part of the fighting to recapture Fort Steadman from the Confederates and Ward was captured during this action. He was exchanged on April 4. Ward was mustered out with the rest of the regiment on July 30, 1865. He entered Regular Army service after the war, serving from February 23, 1866 to October 30, 1905 and he retired as a Brigadier General. Ward fought during the Philippine Insurrection and was wounded for the fourth time during that service. In the large binder it also has copies of the newspaper article telling when he was presented the sword an both occasions. The fancier of the two swords was one of two swords presented on the same time and the other sword is illustrated in Thillmann's book on Civil War Army Swords. The pair of sword were sold decades ago by noted collector and author Norm Flayderman and they are accompanied by excerpts from his catalog. They even have a few pictures of War at different stages of his life. There is also a printed history that the first sword that was presented on March 28th 1864 was captured by a Confederate officer from North Carolina during the Battle of Petersburg and in 1894, he returned the sword to Ward. This is an amazing pair of swords and each one of them has an amazing history. You get both of these wonderful pieces for $9,950.

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