AMERICAN AND EUEOPEAN SWOEDS 73 



Avith a Greek helmet and a sword above and a spray of laurel below. 

 The tip is decorated on each side with a battle-ax between laurel 

 wreaths and a lion's head. The reverse is decorated near the top 

 with a Roman sword about which laurel spraj's are entwined. This 

 sword was presented to the National Museum in 1931 by Hancock 

 Dorr. 



SWORD OWNED BY BRIG. GEN. JOHN P. HATCH 



A second Civil War presentation sword of a regulation type, but 

 very ornately decorated, in the National Museum collection, is one 

 that was presented to Brig. Gen. John P. Hatch, United States' 

 Volunteers, by officers of the Fifth New York and First Vermont 

 Cavalry in 1862. This sword ^' is of the regulation type designed 

 for the use of staff and field officers in 1850. The blade is slightly 

 curved with a broad shallow groove. It bears on the obverse the 

 United States arms and trophy and scroll designs, and on the reverse 

 the same designs with the letters " U. S. " in place of the arms. The 

 grip is silver mounted, the obverse side bearing a medallion decorated 

 with the United States arms, and the reverse side bearing a plain 

 medallion. The pommel, knuckle guard, and counterguard are all 

 of the regular type used with the service sword of this character, 

 but they are of fine workmanship and decorated with arabesque 

 designs. The scabbard is dull steel decorated with three gilt mounts 

 each bearing an oval shield in the center surrounded by scroll decora- 

 tions. The first of these bears the American eagle on the United 

 States shield; the second the figure of Columbia standing by a 

 column inscribed " Liberty and Union " ; and the third the figure 

 of Justice. The reverse of the mount nearest the hilt is inscribed 

 " To Brigadier General J. P. Hatch from Officers of the 5th New 

 York and 1st Vermont Calvary, Oct. 31, 1862." 



The recipient of this sword was born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1822, 

 and was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 

 1845. He participated in man}^ of the principal battles of the war 

 with Mexico and was awarded the rank of brevet first lieutenant for 

 gallant and meritorious conduct in the Battles of Contreras and 

 Churubusco and the rank of captain for his services at Chapultepec. 

 In September, 1861, he was made brigadier general of volunteers 

 and placed in command of a brigade of cavalry. He participated in 

 the Battles of Winchester and Manassas, Va., and was severely 

 Avounded at the Battle of South Mountain, Md., in September, 1862. 

 During the latter period of the war, he was assigned to various com- 

 mands in the South, and after the close of hostilities he was placed 

 in command of the Department of South Carolina. After the pacifi- 



=" Length, 105 cm. Blade, 84.8 cm. long, 2.8 cm. wide. PI. 24, fig. 0. 

 98266—32 6 



