AMEKICAN AND EUEOPEAN SWORDS 79 



ground with the figure of a color bearer, the monogram " U. S.," and 

 scroll designs. The reverse bears the figure of a Cavalry officer 

 standing with drawn sword, and trophy, and scroll designs. The 

 grip is composed of a silver figure of Liberty standing and thrusting 

 a lance down the throat of a dragon, which extends from pommel 

 to quillon below the blade in the form of the guard. The scabbard 

 is silver plated and bears three gold-plated mounts, the first of which 

 is modeled in the form of a trophy and the second in the form of a 

 statue of Liberty. Between the two appears the inscription : 

 " Presented to Maj. Gen. P. H. Sheridan by a few friends in New 

 York, as a token of their high appreciation and esteem." 



A second very handsome sword ^'' once owned by General Sheridan 

 and now in the National Museum collection was presented to him 

 by officers of the Twentieth Army Corps in 1863. It has a long, 

 straight, heavy, single-edged blade. The obverse side is decorated 

 in high relief in gold with the United States arms; a trophy and 

 scroll inscribed " Constitution and Liberty " ; the monogram " U. 

 S." within a sunburst; and floral and scroll designs. The reverse 

 is similarly decorated with floral and trophy designs. The entire 

 surface of the grip, which is cylindrical, is covered with gilt plate 

 formed in the shape of layers of palm and laurel leaves. The re- 

 verse side contains an oval depression in which is installed a min- 

 iature figure of a medieval knight. The whole is encircled by three 

 rows of small pearls and bears in gold letters set with diamonds the 

 monogram " P. H, S," The knuckle guard is formed of sprays of 

 oak and palm with a central medallion bearing on the lower part the 

 figure of a man-at-arms and on the upper the American eagle. The 

 counterguard consists of a heavy, solid, oval, fluted plate through the 

 center of which the blade passes. The obverse side bears a ruby 

 between the figures of two angels. The scabbard is gilded and bears 

 two heavy mounts, one of which shows a figure of St. Michael slay- 

 ing the dragon and the other two angels bearing a scroll. Between 

 these mounts is a closed wreath of palm encircling the inscription : 

 " Presented to Major General P. H. Sheridan by the officers of the 

 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps Department of the Cumberland, 

 Boonsville, May 30th, 1862, Boonsville, July 1, 1862, Chaplin Hill, 

 Oct. 8th, 1862, Stones River, December 30th, 31st, 1862, Jan. 1st, 

 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 1863." 



The Museum collection also includes a presentation cavalry saber ^^ 

 of great richness and beauty once owned by General Sheridan. The 

 blade is of the regular type with a shallow broad central groove. 



^ Length, 105.3 cm. Blade, 86.8 cm. long, 2.9 cm. wide. Marked " C. R. Hirschbaum, 

 Sollngen." PI. 25, fig. 8. 



^Length, 103.2 em. Blade, 88 cm. long, 2.6 cm. wide. Inscribed "Ames Mfg. Co., 

 Chicopee, Mass." PI. 25, fig. 9. 



