98 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



ican War. Of special importance in this connection is a sword 

 owned during that jDeriod by Kear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley, 

 who entered the Navy as acting midshipman in 1856. The service 

 sword ^^ carried by him during his long career as a naval officer was 

 made in 1861. The wide central groove on each side the blade termi- 

 nates in a fleur de lis. The obverse side is etched w^ith trophies and 

 floral and scroll designs, which cover almost its entire surface. The 

 reverse side bears in Old English script the letters " U. S. N.," 

 flanked by floral and scroll designs. The black leather scabbard is 

 reinforced by three heavy brass mounts, all of which are ornately 

 engraved with naval and floral designs. This sword w^as lent to the 

 National Museum in 1911 by Mrs. Winfield Scott Schley. 



The owner of this sword w^as born in Frederick County, Md., in 

 1839. He was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 

 1860 and later served on board the frigate Niagara. In 1861-62 he 

 was attached to the frigate Potomac of the Western Gulf Squadron, 

 and he subsequently participated in the series of engagements that 

 resulted in the capture of Port Hudson. During the period 1864- 

 1866 he served on the U. S. S. ^Yateree in the Pacific and in 1866-1869 

 lie was instructor at the Naval Academy. He served on the Asiatic 

 Station in 1869-1872 and in 1876-1879 on the Brazil Station. In 

 1884 he commanded the relief exjDedition that rescued Lieut. 

 Adolphus W. Greely, United States Army, and six of his companions 

 at Cape Sabine in Grinnell Land. In 1888 he was promoted to the 

 rank of captain, and in 1890 he was placed in command of the pro- 

 tected cruiser Balthnore. In 1898 he was promoted to the rank of 

 commodore and placed in command of the flying squadron with the 

 BrooMyn as his flagship. During the Battle of Santiago, July 3, 

 1898, the American Battle Fleet was commanded by Schley, as second 

 in command in the temporary absence of his senior officer Rear 

 Admiral William T. Sampson, who w^as the commander of the entire 

 Atlantic Squadron. In March, 1899, Schley was promoted to the 

 rank of rear admiral and assigned to the command of the South 

 Atlantic Squadron. He died in New York City in 1911, and his 

 sword together with other relics was lent to the National Museum in 

 that year by Mrs. Schley. 



SWORDS OWNED BY REAR ADMIRAL CHARLES D. SIGSBEE 



Two interesting swords in the National Museum collection belong- 

 ing to this group were owned by Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee, United 

 States Navy. One of these swords '^- has an unusually slender blade, 

 the obverse of which bears floral and scroll designs, a sunburst, and 



■" Length, 87 cm. Blade, 71.5 cm. loug, 2.7 cm. wide. Inscribed " Collins & Co. 

 Hartford, Conn." PI. 32, flg. 1. 



" Length, 82 cm. Blade, 69.5 cm. loug, 2.1 cm. wide. 



