102 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



CONFEDERATE NAVAL OFFICER'S SWORD 



The National Museum collection contains a Confederate naval 

 officer's sword ^^ of exceptional historical interest. The blade is 

 slightly curved and bears a wide shallow groove on each side. The 

 obverse is decorated in silver chasing with the Confederate flag 

 superimposed upon an anchor between floral and scroll designs. The 

 reverse is similarly decorated with crossed cannon and an anchor. 

 The grip is covered with white heavily grained fishskin wound 

 with seven turns of 3-stranded brass wire, and the whole is sur- 

 mounted by a brass strip, which terminates in a pommel in the 

 form of the head of a sea monster. The knuckle guard is a plain 

 brass strip, which expands into a broad oval counterguard, the re- 

 verse side of which is hinged. The front of the counterguard is 

 decorated with a large floral spray, two crossed cannon, and an an- 

 chor within an oval. The scabbard is made of black leather with 

 three brass mounts, two of which are encircled by rings in the form 

 of ropes. This sword, which was owned by an officer of the Con- 

 federate ship Florida^ was transferred to the National Museum by 

 the United States Navy Department in 1898. 



NAVAL PRESENTATION SWORDS 

 SWORD OWNED BY COMMODORE THOMAS MACDONOUGH 



The National Museum collection contains three naval presentation 

 swords of the war of 1812-1814 period. One of these was presented 

 by the State of Connecticut to Commodore Thomas Macdonough, 

 United States Navy, in recognition of his achievement in defeating 

 the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Champlain, September 11, 

 1814. The blade of this sword is straight and slender with a broad 

 shallow central groove.^^ The obverse side is decorated in gold with 

 floral sprays, a trophy of arms, and the arms of the United States 

 below a group of 15 stars. The reverse bears a trophy of arms and 

 floral decorations. The gold-mounted grip is 4-sided in shape. 

 Each side is bordered with a row of facets representing brilliants. 

 The pommel is an eagle's head, and the guard is divided into three 

 parts by a medallion at one end and the head of a monster in the 

 center. The lower quillon is straight and plain and the upper one 

 terminates in a ram's head. The scabbard bears on the upper part 

 of the obverse a tablet inscribed " Thomas Macdonough, Esqr., U. S. 

 Navy," and three ornate panels, one of which shows Neptune in his 

 chariot ; another, the fleet on Lake Champlain ; and the third, a naval 

 trophy. The reverse is inscribed : " Presented by his Excellency 



^ Length, 86 cm. Blade, 72.5 cm. long, 2.3 cm. wide. Inscribed " Courtney & Co., 

 Charleston, S. C." 



^- Length, 89.2 cm. Blade, 77 cm. long, 2.3 cm. wide. PI, 31, fig. 1. 



