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ONE OF GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN'S SWORDS

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This sword of General Philip Sheridan was presented by him personally to Thomas Donaldson, of The Smithsonian Institution. The German imported sword was owned by General Sheridan early in his career when he was serving as an Infantry officer. It is not impossible that he acquired it prior to the Civil War. Here is a link to follow on his career (Philip Sheridan - Wikipedia). General Philip Henry Sheridan was one of the most famous commanders of the Civil War.

This infantry officer's sword was presented to Thomas Donaldson in 1887, a good friend of Sheridan's who was a collector of American historical artifacts. An 1853 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Sheridan served in the 1st United States Infantry Regiment and took part in Indian fighting receiving a minor wound near Portland, Oregon. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was already a seasoned warrior who quickly rose through the ranks to eventually lead the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac under his friend General Ulysses S. Grant. Sheridan was instrumental in blocking General Robert E. Lee's escape and forcing his surrender at Appomattox Court House. Sheridan would be active in the United States Army after the Civil War including fighting in the Indian Wars where he was promoted to Lieutenant General. President Grant sent Sheridan to observe the Franco-Prussian War where Sheridan toured Europe, returning to report to Grant.

In 1886 Sheridan was named as president of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, a military order that dated back to the Civil War composed of almost every military officer of note. Modeled on the Society of the Cincinnati, membership was later opened up to descendants of such officers. It was on that ceremonial occasion that we learn that Sheridan was a close friend of Thomas Corwin Donaldson, a former Civil War officer and personal friend of President Rutherford B. Hayes. Donaldson writes extensively in his memoirs of the induction of Sheridan as Commander of the Loyal Legion at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. As Donaldson witnessed the event, former President Hayes was present and handed the ivory gavel of Commander to Sheridan. Afterwards, the group walked to the local chapter of the Loyal Legion where they viewed a copy of the famous painting. Sheridan's Ride to Winchester whereupon Hayes remarked, "Get me a copy of this lithograph; I am one of the few men that saw this ride."  In his memoirs, Donaldson later writes of how Sheridan gave him a full recollection of the ride at Winchester on a later occasion, most certainly the date of this presentation.

Thomas Donaldson was a major collector for the Smithsonian Institution but also amassed an enormous personal collection of historical objects ranging from President Abraham Lincoln's furniture, an original copy of the 13th Amendment signed by President Lincoln, General Grant's 'unconditional surrender' letter and this sword given to him personally by Lieutenant General Philip Sheridan. It is listed in The Memoirs of Thomas Donaldson as edited by Watt P. Marchman which is housed at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio.

The 1850 type non-regulation foot officer's sword is of field service quality made and exported by Walscheid for the U. S market. It has a 33" Solingen blade. Along the 19 1/2-inch fuller there appears foliate engraving with the federal eagle clutching a ribbon bearing the inscription "E. Pluribus Unum". At the ricasso is the brass round insert with the word 'proved'. On the reverse is the maker's mark at the ricasso with foliate engraving extending up the fuller interspersed by the engraved "U. S." The blade is in excellent original burnish. The iron guard has openwork in the form a spread-winged eagle over a "US" and is surmounted by the inscription "E. Pluribus". The ribbon at the top of the guard bears one of the two engraved presentations from Sheridan to Donaldson. The ray skin grip is bound by twisted brass wire and overall, the sword's exterior is in fine condition with a nice dark patina throughout. The iron scabbard is excellent and has a pleasing patina. Engraved on the ribbon above the ornate spread-eagle guard, and also on the mid-right side of the scabbard between the two ring lockets or bands is: "Philip H. Sheridan, Lieut. Gen'l. to Thomas Donaldson. Feb. 24th 1887". So, the inscription is twice repeated in the identical (engraver's) hand.  Additionally in a fine contemporary matted frame is a letter and its envelope dated February 23rd, 1887, from Sheridan at "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON D.C."  addressed to "Thomas Donaldson, Philadelphia" saying, "My dear Mr. Donaldson. I send you a sword with my compliments. I wore it on many occasions and found it agreeable to carry. With kind regards. Yours truly P. H. Sheridan..."

This is a pre-war or early Civil War sword owned and used by General Philip Henry Sheridan; one the greatest military men America has had to offer. It was received by a prominent soldier, historian and collector who helped amass the extensive collection at the Smithsonian Institution. Provenance: Philip Sheridan to Thomas Donaldson; The Tharpe Collection; The Ray Richey's Texas Civil War Museum. A national treasure!   [pe] [ph:L]

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