Manufactured: Unmarked  Maker: Unmarked  Year: 1838 - 1850s  Model: Eagle pommel

Size: 29.5 inch blade, 1 inch wide, .314 thick  Condition: VG

The blade is etched: “Percival / Drayton / U.S. / Navy”. The blue and gold decorated blade has a fouled anchor, a wreath of 13 stars and acorn and oak leaf design. The grip is ivory and carved with a scale design. The integral large eagle pommel and back strap are both gilt and very high relief with back strap having the feather design running all the way to the guard. The obverse folding guard langet is 3.29 inches wide and 1.94 inches high. It is decorated with applied acorn and oak leaf decoration. The reverse folding counter guard is plain with only a raised ridge. It measures 2.65 wide and 1.52 high. The top scabbard mount is decoratively engraves at the base with a floral frog stud and a carry ring. The middle mount has the same edge decoration and an engraved fouled anchor. The drag is engraved with acorns and oak leaves.

Percival had a 38 year career with exemplary service including commanding the U.S.S. Hartford at the battle of Mobile Bay. He also fought against his brother Thomas at Port Royal; Thomas was a Major General in the Confederate Army.

Drayton, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, joined the Navy at age 15 and was made Midshipman on 12/1/1827; Passed Midshipman, June 10, 1833; Lieutenant Feb. 28, 1838; Commander Sept. 14, 1855; Captain July 16, 1862. Drayton served continuously up to the Civil War, being posted to stations that included the Mediterranean, the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Brazil, Paraguay and at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC.  Assigned Captain of a 2^nd class sloop, USS Pocohontas on 8/9/61, part of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Percival was considered a traitor in the Palmetto State, and a price was put on his head. Joined his fellow Federal Fleet to bombard Fort Walker at Port Royal in November 1861; it was only after the Union cease fire that it was discovered that the fort was defended by Drayon’s brother Gen. Thomas Drayton.

Percival continued to serve the Federal fleet, attacking Fort Sumter and Charleston. He was later recruited by Admiral Farragut to join his fleet to attack Mobile Bay. His brother Thomas fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain and Sharpsburg. Both of them survived the war.

When the war ended Percival was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, but he died shortly after his appointment. A monument was erected to him inside Trinity Church in Manhattan, New York City, New York.   Percival died on August 4, 1865 in Washington, DC and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA.

Accompanied by a substantial amount of research material.  [ss, ld]

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