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LOT 1173
Historic Civil War Hamilton Ruddick Gilt Presentation Officer’s Sword Inscribed to Henry Tillinghast Sisson with Pearl Grips and Scabbard - This sword is inscribed “Col.
H.T. Sisson/5th R.I. Vols/From Friends of Mass. 44th/in toke of/their respect and gratitude/Aug. 1863.” on the reverse languet. This sword is represented in fine detail on the statue by Henri Schonhardt c. 1919 at Colonel
Henry Tillinghast Sisson’s (1831-1910) grave in Commons Cemetery in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and is likely
the sword he is holding in a Civil War portrait. Sisson studied at the Gorham Academy in Maine and the University Grammar School in Providence, Rhode Island, and was active in the state militia in the antebellum era. He was also the inventor of the still widely used three-ring binder in 1859. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as the lieutenant
and paymaster for the 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, a three-month unit like so many at the beginning of the war when the war was widely assumed to be quickly resolved. They fought at the First Battle of Bull Run. He was then appointed
captain in the First Rhode Island Artillery late that year and joined the 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery as a major in early 1862
and was in command of Companies B, F, and K at the Battle of Secessionville on June 16, 1862, in South Carolina. He resigned to raise new recruits and was promoted to colonel in November
Henry
Tillinghast
Sisson
manufacturers. The sword has a 30 3/4 inch, straight, central fullered blade with patriotic etching including a boat and fort scene, martial trophies, and a guardian angel/Victoria/Nike standing on a beast on the obverse and “UNION,” an eagle, and a soldier loading a rifle-musket on the reverse. The reverse ricasso also has an etched “H. RUDDICK/BOSTON” maker’s mark. The gilt brass hilt has a star over Columbia’s shield and martial trophies on the obverse languet, acanthus scroll, and other floral patterns, mother of pearl grip scales, a gilt chain knuckle guard, and ornate pommel nut. The gilt scabbard has busts of a helmeted classical figure (likely Mars/Ares) and Liberty on the suspension bands and floral, scroll, and martial patterns.
CONDITION: Very fine with strong original gilt finish on the hilt and scabbard, some fading on the body of the scabbard, distinct designs throughout, mostly bright blade with some mild pitting, some repairs visible in the pearl scales, and generally mild age and storage related wear overall.
Estimate: 9,000 - 12,000
LOT 1174
Exceptional Historic Civil War U.S. Foot Officer’s Presentation Sword with Ames Scabbard Inscribed to Captain Thomas Herbert - This beautifully presentation sword follows much the same pattern as other Model 1850 Foot Officer’s swords, but with additional embellishment. The slightly curved blade is approximately 31 inches and wonderfully etched for nearly its entire length with floral scrolls, “US”, stands of arms, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” in a banner. The right ricasso is retailer marked with “PALMERS &/BACHELDERS/BOSTON” who were in operation under that name from 1856 to 1864, and were located at 162 Washington St. in Boston in 1863. The openwork of the gilded guard is made up of floral motifs and “US”, eagle head quillion with jeweled eyes, D-guard, a Phrygian helmet type pommel, and a floral engraved and wire wrapped silver grip. The “AMES MFG. CO” gilded scabbard is engraved with flourishes and floral scrolls, a stand of arms and drums with a liberty cap, and the inscription “Presented to/Capt. Thomas Herbert/11 Unattached Co. Hy. Artillery Mass. Vols./ by the Members of his Company/Fort Independence Oct. 1863/-’Honor the Brave’-”. Thomas Herbert initially joined the Union Army as a captain in Company I of the 8th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry which performed various garrison roles from 1862 to 1863. Records indicate he mustered into the Company G (11th Unattached Company) of the 3rd Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery which was raised on 20 October 1863 as a second lieutenant, though this may be an error in the records as it is unlikely he would have been demoted and the inscription on the sword lists him as a captain. This regiment of heavy artillery also performed garrison rolls, many of them in the forts around Washington D.C., though it is likely that the Fort Independence referred to in the inscription is the one which protected Boston harbor. The records list Herbert as a captain when the regiment was mustered out in 1865. CONDITION: Excellent, the exceptional blade is mostly bright with crisp etching and some scattered very light spotting. The hilt retains most of the original gilding with a few scattered patches of darker patina and an attractive antique patina on the silver. The scabbard retains almost all of the original bright gilding with a few scattered spots of darker patina and handling marks and crisp engraving. A very attractive Civil War officer’s sword that was presented to an identified officer! Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
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1863. He took command of the 5th Rhode Island Infantry and arrived at New Berne at the beginning of 1863 and took command of Fort Totten. They were previously engaged in the Burnside Expedition and then remained to hold the captured territory. This unit became the 5th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery on May 27, 1863. They defended New Berne, Little Washington, and Roanoke
Island in North Carolina from May 1863 through May of 1865. His men defeated multiple Confederate attacks and ended the siege on Little Washington. Sisson went home on medical leave in October of 1864 and officially mustered out on June 26, 1865. He became wealthy in manufacturing and later served as lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 1875-1877 under Republican Governor Henry Lippitt. During the Spanish-American War, he led a group of the citizens of Little Compton desiring to form a company to defend Rhode Island.
Hamilton Ruddick was listed as a manufacturer of swords and machinist in Boston during the Civil War. Swords with his markings are rather rare compared to many of the era’s other dealers and