AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN SWOEDS 39 



quiver, battle axes, and a liberty cap on a pole. The reverse is sim- 

 ilarly decorated with a trophy consisting of two drums, a standard 

 and floral and scroll designs. The pommel and guard are both ab- 

 solutely plain. The blade of the second sword =° of this type owned 

 by Major General Macomb is decorated in silver chasing with the 

 United States arms surmounted by 13 stars, and the letters " U. S." 

 within a floral wreath. The reverse is decorated in a similar manner 

 with a trophy consisting of a crossed cannon, flags and a liberty cap. 

 The pommel is decorated with palm leaves and the sides of the 

 guard and counterguard with beadwork. The scabbard is made of 

 steel. 



The owner of these two swords was born in Detroit, Mich., in 

 1782. He entered the Army as cornet of Cavalry in 1799, and was 

 made captain in 1805 and major in 1808. Wlien the War of 1812 

 began he was lieutenant colonel of Engineers and adjutant general 

 of the Army. He was transferred to the Artillery, and in 1813 

 served with distinction at Niagara and Fort George. In 1814, he 

 was promoted to the grade of brigadier general and placed in com- 

 mand of the Lake Champlain frontier. On September 11, 1814, 

 with only about 1,500 Regular troops, he successfully defended the 

 town of Plattsburg against the attack of a superior British force, 

 commanded by Sir George Prevost. After this engagement the 

 British retreated to Canada, and General Macomb received the 

 thanks of Congress and a gold medal for his heroic services. In 

 1828 he was made major general and general-in-chief of the United 

 States Army. He died in Washinglon, D. C, in 1841. His swords 

 were presented to the National Museum in 1903 by Mrs. F. Grand 

 d'Hauteville. 



SWORD OWNED BY BVT. MAJ. GEN. THOMAS SWORDS 



The National Museum collection includes a sword ^^ of this type 

 owned by Bvt. Maj. Gen. Thomas Swords, United States Army, who 

 was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1829. 

 He was made captain in 1837, and during the next 12 years he was 

 stationed on the western frontier where he served against the Indians 

 with Brig. Gen. Henry Leavenworth. During the war with Mexico 

 he participated with Brig. Gen. Stephen Kearny in the conquest of 

 New Mexico and California. During the Civil War he was chief 

 quartermaster of the departments of the Cumberland and the Ten- 

 nessee. He retired from active service in 1869 and died in 1886. 

 His sword was presented to the National Museum in 1900 by Mrs. 

 E. H. Cotheal. 



"Length, 96 cm. Blade, 79 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. PI. 11. fig. 5. 



" Length, 96.8 cm. Blade, 81.5 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. Marked " N. P. Ames, Cutlers, 

 Springfield, Mass." PI. 11, fig. 6. 



