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3269

RARE 7TH MISSOURI INFANTRY "THE IRISH 7TH" CAVALRY

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
RARE 7TH MISSOURI INFANTRY THE IRISH 7TH CAVALRY
OFFICERS SABER BY SAUERBIER PRESENTED TO CAPTAIN ROBERT BUCHANAN. Overall length: 40 1/8". Blade length: 33". A rare Type 3 cavalry officers saber by Sauerbier from one of the most hard fought units of the Civil War. Captain Robert Buchanan led Company K of the 7th Missouri Infantry, also known as the "Irish 7th". Late in 1864, the 7th was combined w/ the 30th Missouri Infantry & became known as the Missouri Irish Brigade. The Irish Brigade was led by then Lt. Col. Robert Buchanan until his capture by Gen. Lyons, CSA at Nashville. Col. Buchanan was paroled & sent to Ft. Donelson. In late December of 1864, he reported to Benton Barracks, Missouri & commanded paroled soldiers there until the end of the war. The 7th was involved in many notable campaigns throughout the Western theater. Most noteworthy was the assault on Vicksburg in May of 1863. On May 22, 1863 the 7th Missouri & the 81st Illinois participated in the grand assault on Vicksburg w/ both regiments suffering very heavy losses. The 81st Illinois lost its Colonel & Major in the assault & Captain Buchanan took command of both regiments. The 81st Illinois presented this sword to Captain Buchanan for his "brave & gallant" leadership on the battle field that day. Captain Robert Buchanan & the 7th Missouri were immortalized w/ the dedication of a monument honoring their bravery on the Vicksburg battlefield. The monument reads, "US / CAPT ROBERT BUCHANAN / 7TH MISSOURI INFANTRY / COMMANDING REGIMENT / MAY 16 - JUNE 13, 1863 / MARKS ITS FARTHEST ADVANCE MAY 22 / KILLED 9, WOUNDED 93, TOTAL 102". Blade is etched over 2/3 of its length w/ various military, equine & foliate motifs. Engraving includes a horse's head w/ martingale below & 2 pistols, a sword & flags above. Blade is further engraved at the ricasso "H. Sauerbier. Newark, N.J.". Gilded brass hilt w/ highly decorated guard. Pommel has an inset oval bust in silver. Just below the pommel is a silver shield w/ "UNION" in a ribbon crossing the shield. Gilded brass grip w/ gilded brass wire wrap. The iron bodied scabbard has gilded brass mounts. Scabbard throat is engraved & stylized. Top & middle mounts are highly stylized acanthus leaves. Top mount has 2 inset silver lozenges; 1 depicting a crossed sword & leaf, the other features a shield flanked by a ribbon bearing the word "UNION". The middle mount also has 2 inset lozenges; 1 bearing a crossed leaf & Roman axe, the other features a ribbon inscribed "E PLURIBUS UNUM". The drag also has an acanthus leaf motif w/ a single inset silver lozenge featuring crossed cannons. An attached solid silver shield between the mounts reads "Presented to Capt. R Buchanan. of the 7th Mo. Infty. by the Officers of the 81st Regt. Ill. Vol.". UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: included w/ the sword are hundreds of pages of documentation & material related to the sword including several photographs of sword details. There is a plethora of information on Lieutenant Colonel Buchanan's service, photos of him later in life & a framed chronology of his service. Also included are photographs from the Vicksburg National Military Park showing the unit's position & most notable, the monument dedicated to Captain Buchanan & the 7th Missouri attesting to their furthest advance on May 22, 1863. CONDITION: blade has a pleasing cleaned light gray finish. Etching remains quite sharp & maker's mark is easily legible. Hilt is slightly misshaped due to years of hard fought service. Traces of the original gilded finish remain. Grip shows substantial gilded finish in the recessed grooves. Wire is complete. Scabbard body is free from dents. The mounts show some wear but details remain quite crisp w/ traces of original gilding remaining. The iron body has a medium gray slightly mottled patina w/ minor areas of slight discoloration. Drag screw is missing. Presentation shield is extremely legible & has a mellow patina. (02-12984/BF). $6,000-9,000.
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