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Swords that we Know who Owned them
Artillery |
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1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery Presentation Sword - Lt. Nelson B. Gilbert
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Here is a fine looking original Civil War officer sword in the original scabbard. This is the classic Civil War model 1850 officer sword. What makes this one special is that we know who carried it. What makes it special is the back of the top mount of the scabbard is inscribed " Lt. N.B. Gilbert / 1st Arty. C.V." in jeweler quality engraving. The brass guard and pommel have an even, golden color patina. The guard and the grip intact with a pleasing look. The black leather of the scabbard has a crackled finish and minor material loss with a bit of separation on the spine edge, right below the middle mount. The engraved top mount, middle mount, chape and drag all share the same golden patina. The blade is full-length and you can still see a good bit of the original factory etching. The acid etching on the blade depicts geometric patterns and Federal emblems including the dorsal view of a soaring eagle with an "E Pluribus Unum" scroll in its beak and a US shield over a martial panoply on one side. The other side has two US flags, a large, vertically oriented US, and another US shield over a scroll inscribed "E Pluribus Unum". The etching is protected within the fuller and remains visible. There are no makers or retailers markings on the blade but the leather washer is still in place at the ricasso and the guard. The records show that Nelson Brooks Gilbert joined the service on May 22, 1861 as a 2nd Lt. with the 4th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. While en route to Washington DC in October,1861, the regiment retired their gray Connecticut state uniforms and adopted the Federal Army blue uniform. January 2, 1862, the 4th Connecticut Infantry reorganized as the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery. Gilbert was in Co. H which was assigned to Battery No. 2. The notable engagement for Company H occurred on August 1, 1862 at Harrison's Landing on the James River. There, the Federal encampment was bombarded by Confederate artillery on the other side of the river at Coggins Point. After the Peninsula Campaign, detached companies of the 1st went on to serve at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and the Siege of Petersburg. Company G of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery is famous for manning one of their battery's 13 inch seacoast mortars mounted on a reinforced platform car, known as the Petersburg Express.Nelson B. Gilbert mustered out of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery on February 15, 1864. He joined the 3rd Independent Battery, Connecticut Light Artillery on October 27, 1864 as a 1st Lieutenant. The Battery was assigned to the permanent garrison defending City Point, VA. There, Nelson Gilbert served as Adjutant to Captain Thomas S. Gilbert at the Battery headquarters. City Point served as Grant's Headquarters and was also a huge logistical hub for the Union Army. It included eight wharves, over 280 buildings, water towers, a bakery that produced100,000 rations daily, and 22 miles of railroad track. The Depot Hospital at Center Point could treat 15,000 wounded at a time. Captain T. Gilbert regarded the defense of Center Point as a great honor and responsibility. "Under the observant eyes of great chieftains and notables, the Battery drilled and worked, keeping the redoubts neat and the personnel of the camp free from reproach."Gilbert mustered out of the 3rd Independent Battery, Connecticut Light Artillery on June 23, 1865.Research included with the sword consists of a spiral bound history of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery regiment, with timelines, a list of engagements, transcripts of after action reports and some images. There is also a brief history of the 3rd Independent Battery, Connecticut Light Artillery and a brief description of this sword with photos.Also included is an enlarged color photo of Gilbert's memorial marker, a cenotaph, located in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Chester, Connecticut. As stated on the memorial, Nelson died in Riosucio, United States of Colombia, South America on June 17, 1880.On April 15, 1879, "...intending to go to the United States of Colombia, South America... and considering the uncertainty of this life..." Nelson B. Gilbert filed his last will & testament in Guilford, CT. This proved prescient as Colombia still had not created a stable central government by 1879. Local leaders engaged in numerous revolts against the weak central authority. Riosucio, an ancient gold mining region between the states of Antioquia and Cauca, was fraught with longstanding disputes over land use between indigenous people and white settlers from Antioquia. That, combined with the expansion of coffee cultivation led to frequent violence, instability and disorder. A passenger record from the schooner H.B. Griffin records Gilbert's arrival in Cartahegna, Colombia on December 1, 1879. His occupation is listed as "Miner". He appears in the 1880 census as residing in Chester, Connecticut and his occupation is again listed as "Mining". The record was taken on June 18,1880, the day after Gilbert's death, something his wife was obviously unaware of when speaking with the census taker. There is a fairly large stack of photocopied original documents, mostly related to Gilbert's pension application. His widow Laura M. Gilbert filed an application in the state of Nebraska in 1890. She was likely visiting or briefly living with her oldest son, Alexander Hamilton Gilbert, who operated a saloon in Omaha. Laura died in 1905 and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Chester CT. Her obituary states that she died in Meriden, CT and was also past resident of nearby Wallingford. It is a cool sword with a rock solid identification!
Item #: C9982 Price: $3,650.00 USD (Sale Pending)
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