The items in this group are identified to Charles O. Jenison who served as both an officer and enlisted man in the 1^st and 4^th New Hampshire and the 3^rd Massachusetts Cavalry.

The first item in the group is Jenison’s everyday work sword. It is a very plain import Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword in overall good condition. The blade is clean and bright with light scattered mottling and some minor surface scratches. The blade is plain and not etched. There is the usual stopped fuller and the edge has numerous small nicks. Each side of the ricasso is blank. The leather washer below the guard is still present and in good condition.

The hilt is in nice shape. The brass has a light patina with minor age blemishes. The brass on both the hilt and the scabbard are untouched and have not been cleaned. The decoration to the hilt is standard, there is the usual oak wreath decoration worked into the edge of the pommel and the guard has the usual scrollwork decoration and quillon. Engraved into the side of the pommel are the initials “C.O.J.” The leather grip is excellent and the twisted wire wrap is complete and tight.

The leather scabbard has both mounts, rings and drag. All are plain with no decoration. The brass matches the hilt in patina and condition. The throat has a simple single line engraving that reads “LIEUT. C. O. JENISON.” The leather is strong with some scattered surface creasing from use and storage. The back seam is closed tight.

The next item in the group is a framed Soldier’s Memorial for Company D, 4^th New Hampshire Infantry. This is the standard color document that is often encountered. It has Columbia seated at the top center resting against a US shield flanked by two battle scenes. One shows the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the other shows a land battle. Above this is a bust of George Washington. Below Columbia are three scenes from a soldier’s life. The first shows him leaving his family, the next shows him in battle and the third shows his return home. The main text area is separated by four pillars with the two central pillars being wrapped in American flags with the regiment and company on banners between the tops of the pillars. Between the pillars are the listings of the men in the Company including Lt. Jenison whose name is highlighted by a cardboard arrow cut out and attached to the outside of the frame. The arrow reads “SWORD” indicating the sword in the group belonged to him. At the bottom of the memorial are the battles the regiment took part in. The memorial is housed in a wooden frame with a black mat that meas. approx. 20.00 x 25.75. The back of the frame has some notes on Jenison’s service as well as a Xerox copy of a drawing showing the 4^th New Hampshire on Hilton Head. Also attached to the reverse are two modern photographs showing White’s Ferry where Jenison saw action and the place on Hilton Head where his regiment landed. The document itself is in good condition with good coloring. Some dirt has gotten into the frame and is visible on the mat along the upper edge.

There are also three books in the group. The first is an original 1890 copy of “THE FIRST REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS” by Stephen G. Abott. The volume has blue cloth hardcovers with gold embossed flags on the front and title on the spine. There is minor wear to edges but otherwise the book is in excellent condition. Volume runs approx. 512 pages with roster.

The second volume is “ROSTER OF THE FOURTH REG’T N. H. VOLS 1861-1865” by John G. Hutchinson. Book has blue cloth hardcovers with title embossed in gold on the cover. Covers show wear and surface dirt. Volume runs approx. 188 pages and is in good clean condition inside.

The last item in the group is a 1997 reprint of “THE THIRD MASSACHUSETTS CAVALRY” originally published in 1903 by Rev. James K. Ewer. The volume has a dark blue cloth cover with the title embossed in gold on the spine. Volume is in like new condition.

Also with the group is Jenison’s pension records from the National Archives and some internet research and notes.

Charles Otis Jenison was born in Templeton, Massachusetts on December 11, 1839. He enlisted in Company C, 1^st New Hampshire Volunteers at Manchester, New Hampshire on April 18, 1861. On May 2, 1861 he received a commission to 2^nd Lieutenant. The regiment served in the Shenandoah under Patterson but got to Bull Run in time to lose one man captured. It also saw action at Conrad’s Ferry in May. Jenison was mustered out with his regiment at Concord, New Hampshire on August 9, 1861.

Jenison next joined Company D, 4^th New Hampshire Volunteers on September 14, 1861 and was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant on the 18^th of that month. The regiment was assigned to the Union forces on Hilton Head, North Carolina where it was in several small actions before being moved to Florida where they saw were engaged around Jacksonville. Lieutenant Jenison resigned his commission on April 30, 1862.

After his resignation Jenison returned to Massachusetts where he joined Company C, 3^rd Massachusetts Cavalry as a Private on November 3, 1863. At the time of his enlistment Jenison was described as being 5’ 7.50” inches tall with a dark complexion, black hair and gray eyes and was by profession a machinist. Jenison joined the 3^rd while they were at Port Hudson, Louisiana. He served with this regiment throughout the rest of the war and never rose above Private. He participated in approx. twenty battles and skirmishes in Louisiana and the Shenandoah Valley before being discharged on August 18, 1865.

After the war Jenison moved around living for a time in California and Michigan. He married and raised two children. On January 3, 1892 he was living in a hotel in Hanford, California when it caught fire. The left side of Jenison’s body was badly burned and it was thought that he would not recover but he did. He spent his final years in Michigan dying at the age of 93 on December 8, 1922.

Note: Because of the mismatched sizes of the items in this grouping, we feel it would be best to ship them insured UPS in 3 separate boxes - the sword; the memorial; and the books.

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