online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

INSCRIBED PRE-WAR MILITIA SWORD AND LATER CASED MAJOR GENERAL DRESS EPAULETS BELONGING TO MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT COLONEL ALEXANDER SHALER, 65TH NEW YORK INFANTRY

Zoom In Zoom Out Reset

Col. Shaler’s pre-war militia sword is presented here, made by “Horstmann & Sons/Makers Philada.” and so marked on the scabbard. The sword is a militia foot officer’s sword with a 31-3/4” double edged and spear pointed blade having a narrow central fuller, and etched across 50% of the blade face. The etched decoration depicts stands of flags, drums, an American eagle on both sides of the blade. The counterguard has two cast brass quillons, triangular in shape, having eagles, acanthus leaf, and liberty caps in high relief. There are two rectangular languets on either side. The grip is of silver with a brass ferrule at the base. One side of the grip is engraved with a sunburst having a flying eagle over a stand of flags and arms with a diagonally positioned quartered oval shield with the legend “Pro Patriaet Gloria” and a broad ribbon below, reading “National Guard.” The opposite side of the silver grip has a laurel leaf wreath within the rays of a sunburst. The pommel is a standing, down-turned winged American eagle with a shield on his breast. The chain guard is attached from below his beak to the top of the quillon below.

The scabbard is of brass with heavy engraved decorations on the face, including rococo scrolls, an American shield and a stand of flags and arms. The center mount is of heavy cast brass in a leaf pattern with a single carrying ring. The top mount is identical with two carrying rings and a cast brass button. The reverse of the scabbard has an applied scroll with the maker’s name. Inscribed within a hand engraved oak leaf wreath is the following presentation: “Presented to/Capt. Alexander Shaler, by/his Company as a token of respect/and esteem./New York June 12th 1851”.

The sword’s overall condition is very good. Etching on the blade retains some of its factory frosted appearance. Minor spotting near the tip of the blade and on the ricasso near the hilt. Cross guard and pommel retain approx. 50% of their gilt finish. Silver grip is tarnished with wear to its original finish. The scabbard’s drag is missing.

Accompanying the sword is Shaler’s cased pair of Maj. General’s dress epaulets. The dress epaulets are regulation style, being made of gilt wire bullion and lined gilt cloth terminating in two gilt convex crescents having heavy gilt wire fringe. Two silver bullion five-point stars are affixed to the top of each epaulet. The undersides are lined in red velvet and red Russian leather with brass attaching hardware marked “V/Crown.” The original Japanned oval tin measures 10” x 6-1/2” x 6” and has its original label reading “Horstmann Bros. & Allien/No. 7/Bond Street/New York.” Epaulets show wear but retain their high luster. Undersides of one show minor losses to the red leather covering. Tin has minor exterior scratching but retains about 80% of its original finish.

Also included with the grouping is a framed copy of an 1867 song sheet for “Gen. Shaler’s March” by E.G.B. Holder. Modern gold frame measures 22” x 14”, with pages visible on both the front and the back of the frame. There are some superficial surface scratches to the frame, otherwise it and the song sheet are in very good condition. Also with the grouping is an 1877 dated handwritten note from Shaler to Col. Batchelder, indicating that he will not be able to make a payment requested of him.

Alexander Shaler was born in Haddam, Connecticut on March 29, 1827. Educated in private schools, he entered the New York Militia as a private in 1845 and on December 13, 1860, was commissioned Maj. of the York Regiment. With the opening of the Civil War, he was appointed Lt. Col. of the 65th NY Inf. Vol. in June 1861 and became the Col. of the regiment on July 17, 1862. He authored the work Manual of Arms for Light Infantry using the Rifle Musket (New York, 1861). During his service with the regiment, he participated in the following engagements: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, “Mud March,” Chancellorsville, Maryes Heights, and Gettysburg. He was commissioned Brig. Gen. on May 26, 1863 and brevetted Maj. Gen. of Vol. on July 27, 1864.

Shaler received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Maryes Heights, VA on May 3, 1863. His medal citation reads as follows: “At the most critical moment, the head of the charging column being about to be crushed by the severe fire of the enemies artillery and infantry, he pushed forward with a supporting column, pierced the enemy’s works, and turned their flank”. Gen. Shaler commanded the US Military prison at Johnson’s Island, OH during the winter of 1863-1864. During the Battle of the Wilderness, he was taken prisoner by the Confederates on May 6, 1864 and was held in Charleston, SC during the summer of that year. Following his exchange, he commanded a division in the 7th Corps. and the military post in Duval’s Bluffs, Arkansas until he was mustered out on August 24, 1865.

Following the war, he served as the President of the Board of Commissioners of the New York Metropolitan Fire Department and was a civil engineer in charge of the Board of Police and Fire in Chicago, Ill. in 1874-1875. From 1867 until 1886, he was Maj. Gen. of the Nat. Guard of NY and was an organizer and President of the Nat. Guard Association of the United States. Shaler died on December 28, 1911 in NY City and is buried at the English Neighborhood Reformed Church in Ridgefield, NJ.

Grouping is accompanied by Shaler’s military records, his Medal of Honor file, and other documentation.

This group represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to own two significant artifacts related to a gallant Gen. and Medal of Honor winner which represent both the beginning and the end of his illustrious military career.    [sr] [ph:L]

Additional shipping charge necessary - will need to ship in multiple boxes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »