This Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword is identified to Lieutenant Almyne H. G. Richardson of Company K, 114th Pennsylvania Infantry. The sword is in overall excellent untouched condition.

The blade is bright with only very light mottling scattered here and there over the surface. The tip of the blade is dark and discolored. There are also two small areas of surface pitting just a few inches from the tip. The blade edge is clean and near perfect with two small nicks. One can barely be seen and the other only felt. Both sides of the blade have a stopped fuller that begins at the ricasso and runs down the center of the blade stopping 7.00 inches from the point. A thinner, secondary fuller runs below the false edge starting 3.50 inches from the ricasso and stops approx. 9.00 inches from the point. The etching on the blade is not frosty but it is strong and very ornate. On both sides the etching starts at the ricasso. One side begins with a fern above which is a double line with fern leaves spaced evenly along its length; this is then followed by two more lines. Above this is a panoply of flags with a spear at center surrounded by laurel with crossed cannons, drums and a shield. Above this is a scrollwork design with a shield and flag at center. Next are the letters “U.S.” Above this is another scrollwork design topped by another panoply of flags with the decoration ending with a heavy scroll. The opposite side starts with the makers name etched into the ricasso. This reads “W.H. HORSTMANN & SONS, PHILADELPHIA” in four lines. Above the maker’s mark is the same decoration of double lines as on the opposite side. The etched decoration then begins with a panoply of flags with crossed cannons, drums and a shield. Next is a few inches of scroll work that ends with a spread-winged eagle. Above the eagle is 7.00 inches of heavy scrollwork with an interwoven riband that reads “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”

The hilt is in excellent condition. The sharkskin grip is perfect with light surface dirt and is wrapped with 14 courses of a twisted brass wire. All the wire is in place and tight. The pommel cap is very ornate with a deeply carved oak leaf pattern on its face and sides. The counterguard also has deep intricate floral and oak leaf designs. The brass of the hilt has darkened with age and has a fantastic untouched look.

The scabbard is solid and completely wrapped in shark skin. The seam where the skin meets is tightly closed. The skin itself is in excellent condition along the length of the scabbard body. Both brass mounts have a plain surface as does the drag. Both mount rings are present. The throat has a wonderful delicate engraving that reads “ALMYNE H. G. RICHARDSON 2^ND LIEUT. ZOUAVES D’ AFRIQUE, COMP. K, FROM HON. ALEX HENRY, JOHN B. MYERS ESQ. & OTHERS PHILADELPHIA SEPT. 1, 1862.” Alexander Henry was the mayor of Philadelphia during the Civil War. The brass of the mounts and drag have a patina to match the hilt.

There is no doubt that this sword is in excellent untouched condition. It has come down to us without being tinkered, cleaned or fooled with in anyway.

Almyne Henry Griswold Richardson was born May 31, 1840 in Massachusetts. He was living in Philadelphia and working as a clerk when he enlisted as a Private in Company G, 19 Pennsylvania Infantry on May 18, 1861.  Richardson served for three months with the 19^th and was mustered out at Philadelphia on August 29, 1861.

Richardson was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant in Company K, 114^th Pennsylvania Infantry, also known as Collis Zouaves, on August 20, 1862. The regiment was attached to the 3^rd Corps of the Army of the Potomac in October of 1862 and served with that Corps until March of 1864 when it became the Provost Guard for the Army.

Lieutenant Richardson and the 114^th saw their first action at Fredericksburg where the regiment suffered 19 casualties. After spending the winter at Falmouth the 114th embarked on the Chancellorsville Campaign in late April however Lieutenant Richardson was absent. On April 16^th he submitted a request to return to Philadelphia on sick leave due to typhoid fever. His request was granted and on April 28, 1863 he left the regiment. Richardson did not return until sometime after the battle of Gettysburg in late July or August. He was present throughout the winter and on February 6, 1864 he was promoted to 1^st Lieutenant. Richardson campaigned with the 114^th through the summer of Grant’s Overland Campaign and during the siege of Petersburg in October of 1864 he was promoted to Captain of Company K. While at Petersburg Richardson and several of his messmates posed for a photograph in front of their tent. Richardson is shown in this photo wearing a “pillbox” type hat and seated in a camp chair. This photograph is one that has appeared in many books and can be found in the MOLLUS Collection of the US Army Military History Institute at Carlisle and in the photo section of “COLLIS’ ZOUAVES” by Edward J. Hagerty.  In March of 1865 Richardson received a brevet promotion to Major. He was mustered out on May 29, 1865 at Arlington, Virginia.

After the war Richardson lived in Washington, D. C. and worked for the Post Office. He was also an active member of the GAR holding a Department office. He died at Burnt Hills, Maryland on May 21, 1920 and was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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