Imported US Model 1850 Foot Officers Sword Presented to Capt. E.R. Lee 11th CT from the Sharps Rifle Factory - KIA at New Bern with CDV
American Civil War
30" slightly curved, single-edged spear point blade with 20.5" median fuller. Blade 1.125" wide at ricasso with an overall length of 36". 6" hilt with gilt brass guard with floral open work and a shagreen covered grooved wood grip with 13 wraps of twisted wire. Spine etched IRON PROOF. Blade with 19" etched panel featuring foliate scrolls, patriotic and martial themes, panoplies of arms, a US on the reverse at the center and a {Spread-Winged American Eagle} with a ribbon reading E Pluribus Unum above it on the obverse. A maroon fabric throat washer is in place at the face of the guard. Inside face of guard engraved Capt. E.R. Lee/from/his friends at Sharps Rifle Factory. The sword is accompanied by a gilt brass mounted leather scabbard. A studio CDV of Lee is included as well. Also a large binder of information and research about Lee and his service, as well as copies of images, period newspaper accounts, etc is included as well.
Edwin R Lee (1833-1862) was a 28 year old machinist who worked at the Sharps Rifle Factory in Hartford when he was commissioned the captain of Company D of the 11th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry on September 27, 1861. The 11th CT was raised in Hartford under the command of a West Point graduate, Colonel Thomas Kinsburgy, Class of 1832 and organized during late October and mid-November 1861. The regiment was initially dispatched to Annapolis on December 16 and on January 7 was sent to North Carolina as part of Burnsides' Expeditionary Corps. The regiment was first engaged at the Battle of Roanoke Island on February 8, and then proceeded to New Bern. On March 14, 1861 the regiment was engaged at the Battle of New Bern and suffered a mortal wound in the abdomen from a shell fragment during the assault. Period reports indicate that the shell passed over the heads of part of the 11th CT line and exploded near Captain Lee and his company, killing several others and wounding more, in addition to Lee.
From the Collection of George Oldenbourg
From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

Good. Blade with a dulling pewter patina showing scattered surface oxidation and discoloration. Etching remains mostly clear and visible. Guard with some of the gilt remaining in protected areas. Grip wrap with some light wear with the twisted wire wrap intact. Engraving on hilt clear and fully legible. Scabbard with moderate wear, mounts with traces of gilt, leather showing some finish loss. Leather with some creasing and weak areas as well. Upper mount appears to be reattached with some wear to the leather below the mount. CDV about good with a period inked ID at the front bottom edge and a Bartlett & Webster Hartford back mark.
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