20 BULLETIN 1G3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



general design is similar to the one just described, but the grip is 

 wound closely with fine steel wire, and the pommel, knuckle guard, 

 and counterguard are finished in silver plate without decorations of 

 any kind. This sword was lent to the National Museum in 1916 by 

 Mrs. Balch Beall Wilson through the National Society of the 

 Colonial Dames of America. 



SWORD OWNED BY BRIG. GEN. JOHN CROPPER 



The National Museum collection also includes a sword ^ of this 

 same general type, but of far more artistic design than the one just 

 described, that was owned by Brig. Gen. John Cropper, of the Vir- 

 ginia Militia. The grip is made of hardwood and is decorated with 

 spiral grooves, every fourth one of which is wound with a narrow 

 silver strip. The pommel is an openwork silver ball decorated with 

 trophies through the openings in which the tang may plainly be 

 seen. The knuckle guard is a beautifully engraved silver-mounted 

 strip, the central portion being decorated with trophies, and the parts 

 attached to the grip and the pommel are cut into facets. The guard 

 is extended above the blade in a quillon of the same type, and the 

 reverse bears the maker's mark, " J. R."' 



The owner of this sword was born in Accomac County, Va., in 

 1756, and on the outbreak of the Revolution was attached as captain 

 to the Ninth Virginia Regiment organized in his boyhood home. 

 In 1777 he was commissioned major of the Seventh Virginia Reg- 

 iment, and in the following year he was made lieutenant colonel of 

 the Eleventh Virginia Regiment and served with distinction in that 

 position. During the latter period of the war he remained at his 

 home in Accomac assisting the people there to repel the numerous 

 raids made by the British on the peninsula and also against the 

 Tory element in this vicinity. He died at his home in Accomac in 

 1821. His sword was lent to the National Museum by Mrs. John 

 Cropper in 1911 through the National Society of the Colonial Dames 

 of America. 



The colichemarde was succeeded by the small sword, which was 

 introduced into England from the Continent during the eighteenth 

 century and at once became a popular weapon. The small sword 

 was closely related to the colichemarde in design. The blade was 

 similar in shape and length, with the exception that there was no 

 broad portion near the hilt and the blade extended in a long slender 

 graceful shape from hilt to point. 



SWORD OWNED BY AN UNKNOWN OFFICER 



A small sword of this general type and of English make in the 

 National Museum collection was owned during the War of the 



« Length, 95.2 cm. Blade, 79.2 cm. long, 3 cm. wide. PI. 2, flg. 2. 



