68 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



shaped, and the two obverse sides are decorated in silver relief work 

 with the initials " U. S. G." within a sunburst and with four long 

 floral sprays; the reverse is similarly decorated with two military 

 trophies and four floral sprays. The grip is 8-sided and is faced 

 with alternate strips of gold plate and tortoise shell. The former 

 are decorated with three classic heads and the latter with thunder- 

 bolts. The pommel, which is made of gold plate, is vase-shaped and 

 bears on the obverse a shield inscribed " Sic floret res republica" ; the 

 reverse is decorated with an eagle displayed above a laurel wreath 

 and the top is encircled with a row of 14 diamonds. The knuckle 

 guard consists of a broad gold-mounted arm, the obverse of which is 

 decorated with the head of Mars, flanked by military trophies, and 

 is continued to form a quillon of the same shape, terminating above 

 the blade in a knight's head. The counterguard is double-heart- 

 shaped, and bears on the obverse side, in relief, the initials " U. S. G." 

 and the following inscription above a laurel spray : " Jo Daviess 

 County, Illinois, to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, U. S. A., the 

 Hero of the Mississippi." The gold-mounted scabbard is ornately 

 decorated with a series of shields and scrolls in relief inscribed as 

 follows : 



" Palo Alto, Kesaca de la Palma, May 9th, 1846 ; Monterey, Sept. 

 19, 20, 21, 1846 ; Vera Cruz Siege, Mar. 7 to 27, 1847 ; Cerro Gordo, 

 Apr. 18, 1847; San Antonio, Aug. 20, 1847; Churubusco, Aug. 20, 

 1847; Molino del Key, Sept. 8, 1847; Chapultepec, Sept. 13, 1847; 

 Garita, San Cosmo, September 14, 1847; City of Mexico, September 

 14, 1847; Belmont, Nov. 7, 1861; Fort Henry, Feb. 6, 1862; Fort 

 Donelson, Feb. 13, 14, 15, 16, 1862; Shiloh, Apr. 6, 7, 1862; Corinth 

 Siege, Apr. 22 to May 30, 1862 ; luka, Sept. 19, 1862 ; Corinth, Oct. 

 3, 4, 1862; Hatchie, Oct. 5, 1862; Tallahatchie, Dec. 1, 1862; Port 

 Gibson, May 1, 1863; Kaymond, May 12, 1863; Jackson, May 14, 

 1863; Champion Hill, May 16, 1863; Black Kiver Bridge, May 17, 

 1863; Vicksburg, July 4, 1863; Chattanooga, Nov. 23, 24, 25, 26, 

 1863." 



In the spring of 1864 the United States Sanitary Commission held 

 a fair in New York City, and on the occasion of this event a sword 

 was presented to General Grant that in general design was somewhat 

 reminiscent of the presentation swords of the period of the War of 

 1812, which have already been described. The blade of this sword ^^ 

 is wide and heavy and bears on the obverse in silver chasing on a 

 gold background a knight standing, a trophy, and a floral scroll 

 design. The reverse is similarly decorated with the figure of a 

 youthful United States Infantry officer, supporting floral and scroll 

 designs. The grip, which is silver mounted, is decorated on the 



^^ Length, 97 cm. Blade, 77.5 cm. long, 2.5 cm. wide. Inscribed " Tiffany & Co., N. Y." 

 PL 24, fig. 2. 



