Overall the drawn sword meas. approx. 37.50 inches from point to pommel. The blade itself meas. approx. 32.50 inches in length with a 19.00 inch stopped fuller. There is no narrow fuller. The surface of the blade is bright but has scattered deep pitting on both sides over the bottom third of the blade. The rest of the blade has light pitting in spots and several deeper scattered spots. The edge has several very small nicks.

The obverse ricasso has a brass circle marked “PROOVED” while the reverse ricasso has the figure of a standing knight surrounded by “CLAUBERG / SOLINGEN.” Original leather washer is present at the base of the ricasso.

The etching on the blade is visible despite the pitting. The obverse side etching begins with a scroll just above the ricasso that reads “CAPT. L. F. WATERS / 99^th P.V.V.” followed by a spread-winged eagle in a sunburst flanked by scroll decorations. Eagle holds an “E PLURIBUS UNUM” riband in its beak. The central design on the reverse is a block pattern “US” with interwoven vine decorations. This is flanked by scrollwork and foliate. Etching is faint but easily visible.

The hilt is of iron. Grip is wrapped in gray sharkskin and twisted brass wire flanked by straight brass wire with an iron ferrule at its base. It has an iron backstrap that is stippled at bottom and pitted the rest of the way up to a tiered pommel cap. The knucklebow divides into four cutout branches as it widens and comes around to the base of the grip ending in a rolled quillon. The guard has decoration of a cutout spread-winged eagle over the cutout letters “US.” Hilt is tight but does have light to heavy pitting and some moderate surface rust.

Iron scabbard is dark with moderate pitting and some light surface rust in areas. Both the rings and mounts are present and made of iron as is the scabbard throat. There are several minor dings and two small dents between the mounts.

An overall examination of this sword gives the impression that this was Captain Waters everyday work sword.

Louis F. Waters was 28 years old when he enlisted as 1^st Sergeant in Company I, 99^th Pennsylvania Infantry at Philadelphia on August 24, 1861.

The 99^th was assigned to the Army of the Potomac where it served in the 3^rd Corps. It saw action at 2^nd Bull Run and Chantilly in August and September of 1862. Not long afterward on September 13^th Waters was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant. He commanded his Company from September 26^th to November 30, 1862.

At the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862 Waters was severely wounded in the chest. He was sent to a hospital in Washington on December 16^th but was back with his Company in the early months of 1863 having been promoted to 1^st Lieutenant dating from January 1.

Waters once again took command of Company I and led it through Chancellorsville and Gettysburg where the regiment fought near Devil’s Den and suffered its highest loss.

On November 13, 1863 Waters was promoted to Captain of Company I and led it into the Overland Campaign in the spring of 1864. Over the winter the 3^rd Corps had been disbanded and the 99^th was now marching south with the 2^nd Corps. The 99^th saw fighting in the Wilderness and at Spotsylvania. On May12, 1864 during the famous attack on the Mule Shoe Captain Waters was shot and killed. He was originally buried on the battlefield but after the war his body was moved to the National Cemetery at Fredericksburg where he rests today. The National Park Service wayside at the Mule Shoe bears a photo of Captain Waters.

Accompanied by military records from the National Archives.  [ad]

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