40 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



STAFF AND LINE OFFICERS' SWORDS 



A second sword '- of this type carried during the war with Mexico 

 by Capt. Charles O. Collins was lent to the Museum in 1902 by Mrs. 

 Catherine Mimmack. A third, ^^ carried by Capt. Erastus A. Cap- 

 ron, United States Army, when he was killed at the Battle of 

 Churubusco, August 4, 1847, was lent to the Museum in 1899 by Mrs. 

 Julia C. Palozotta. 



ENGINEER CORPS OFFICERS' SWORDS 



Some time after the adoption of the sword for general officers 

 and staff officers described above, a special type of sword was adopted 

 for the use of officers of the Corps of Engineers. 



SWORDS OWNED BY MAJ. GEN. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN 



The National Museum collection includes two swords of this type, 

 which were owned during the war with Mexico by Maj. Gen. George 

 B. McClellan, when lieutenant. The design of each of these two 

 swords ®* is as follows : The blade is straight and triangular in shape 

 with a deep groove in each side. The two obverse sides are decorated 

 with floral and scroll designs and the reverse side bears the United 

 States coat of arms, floral and scroll designs, and the inscription 

 " U. S. Corps of Engineers." The grip, which is gilded, is made in 

 the form of two rattlesnakes in 14 coils with the head joined to the 

 pommel and the tails to the quillons. The knuckle guard, which is 

 4-sided, terminates at the pommel in a scroll; the obverse and re- 

 verse sides are decorated in the center with a 5-pointed star flanked 

 by thunderbolts. The quillons are plain flat strips, and the counter- 

 guard is heart-shaped. The upper portion of the obverse side ter- 

 minates in an oak-leaf scroll inclosing a 5-pointed star and the lower 

 part is decorated in silver with a double-turreted castle above 26 

 stars ; the reverse side is a semicircular bronze shield without decora- 

 tion. The use of swords of this type was discontinued in 1850. 

 These two swords were presented to the National Museum by the 

 Hon. George B. McClellan in 1917. 



MEDICAL STAFF SWORDS 



The National Museum collection contains a sword ^^ of the type 

 carried during this period by officers of the Medical Staff of the 



^■» Length. 95.3 cm. Blade, 79 cm. long, 1.5 cm. wide. 



»' Length, 95.3 cm. Blade, 79 cm. long, 1.5 cm. wide. 



" Length, 93.8 cm. Blade. 80 cm. long, 2 cm. wide. Both are marked " N. P. Ames, 

 Cutlers, Springfield, Mass." PI. 12, figs. 1, 3. 



« Length, 94 cm. Blade, 78 cm. long, 2 cm. wide. Scabbard marked " N. P. Ames, 

 Cutlers, Cabotville, Mass." PI. 12, fig. 4. A sword of the same type, the blade of which 

 is inscribed " National Rifles," is included in the Alfred F. Hopkins collection. See 

 pi. 12, fig. 6. 



