The drawn sword meas. approx. 37.25 inches long from point to pommel. The blade meas. approx. 31.75 inches long with a 21.25 inch long stopped wide fuller topped by a 14.50 inch narrow fuller. The blade surface is semi-bright with moderate to heavy mottling. The edge has several small nicks that can be felt rather than seen. Both sides of the blade are etched but the etching is very worn. The obverse has scrollwork and foliate with a spread-winged eagle with a riband that reads “E PLURIBUS UNUM” in its beak. Above this is more foliate. The reverse side has foliate topped by a block “US” with more scrollwork. As stated above the etching is worn and faint. The obverse ricasso has the figure of a standing knight with “CLAUBERG / SOLINGEN.” Leather washer is gone.

Blade has a highly detailed, two-line, cutout brass hilt with the guard and knucklebow cast in one piece.  Upper line of brass hilt features a block “US” surrounded by finely case foliate. Bottom line has an intricate, foliate cutout design. The grip is made of ribbed wood and is sharkskin wrapped with several courses twisted brass wire. Phrygian pommel cap is border-engraved with a laurel leaf pattern with a patriotic shield at center. Knucklebow and guard wiggle a bit. Quillon is a nicely formed round scroll. Brass surfaces have a nice untouched patina.

Metal scabbard has heavy oxidation on the lower third. There are no dents but there is moderate scattered surface pitting and the lower portion of the drag is missing. Scabbard has both brass mounts, rings and throat. Mounts are plain except for a line of stars on the ring bar. Set screws are missing from the drag and lower band but they are firmly in place. Top mount bears a presentation that reads “PRESENTED TO CAPT. W. H. COXSON BY CO. I 176^TH NYVV.”

William H. Coxsen (also carried on the rolls as Carson and Boxson) was born around 1840 in New York. He was 22 years old when he enlisted as a Private in Company G, 176^th New York Infantry on September 23, 1862 at New York City. At the time he was described as being 5’ 7” tall with a light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. By occupation he was a printer.

The 176^th was assigned to the defenses of New Orleans. The regiment took part in a couple of skirmishes but their first large action was at Brasher City, Louisiana on June 23, 1863 where it lost 4 killed, 6 wounded and 264 captured. Among the latter was Coxsen, who was now a Corporal. He and the other captives were paroled the next day but were not declared exchanged until August when they returned to their regiment.

In October Coxsen was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Company I and by the end of the year 1863 he was commissioned Captain of Company I with rank to date from January 1, 1864.

In August of 1864 the 176^th was transferred along with the 19^th Corps to the Army of the Shenandoah.  On September 19, 1864 the regiment was engaged in the Third Battle of Winchester where Captain Coxsen was wounded in the left leg behind the knee joint. The wound sent him to a hospital in Sandy Hook, Maryland where he requested a leave of absence for 30 days which was approved. Exactly when Coxsen returned to his regiment is unknown but it seems that he asked for a 20 day extension when the original 30 days expired. Odds are he did not return until November.

After the war the 176^th continued in service and eventually Captain Coxsen resigned due to disability on January 23, 1866.

Coxsen returned to New York where he later married and collected a government pension. He died on October 2, 1885 and was buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

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