SLOUCH HAT AND SWORD OF J.S. CLARK: ABOLITIONIST; 4th MAINE INFANTRY VOLUNTEER; 3rd US INFANTRY; COMMANDING US COLORED INFANTRY; FREEDMAN'S BUREAU AND A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE 9th CAVALRY "THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS"

SLOUCH HAT AND SWORD OF J.S. CLARK: ABOLITIONIST; 4th MAINE INFANTRY VOLUNTEER; 3rd US INFANTRY; COMMANDING US COLORED INFANTRY; FREEDMAN'S BUREAU AND A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE 9th CAVALRY

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$6,950.00

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Item Code: 1284-32

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This wonderfully historic grouping originated from the U.S. Grant GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Post 4, later the Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts 590 Main St. Chartered on February 19, 1867, the post lasted until 1945. This group was donated to the post by Anitta Belle Clark Warren the daughter of Brevet Major Julius Stimpson Clark both she and her father resided and are now buried in Melrose.  Mayo Dyer Hersey, a prominent engineer, scientist and Brown University professor had been involved with the Grant Post over his life and accepted the donation some time after 1920. In 1945 the GAR Hall transformed into the Memorial Hall and the items were therein deposited and display for another couple of decades. Mayo Dyer Hersey was intimately involved in this transfer and docketed the hundreds of military items. The notations and histories on the hat and sword here offered are in Hersey's own distinctive hand.  After the Civil War Centennial, the museum sold off the majority of their military items which then found homes in many of this country's finest collections.

Doctor Julius Stimpson Clark died in Melrose Massachusetts in 1920; please click on this link (Dr Julius Stimpson Clark (1838-1920) - Find a Grave Memorial). Enlisting on June 15, 1861, as a Commissary Sergeant in the 4th Maine Infantry he was soon captured at the battle of First Bull Run. He was a captive for months. Upon his return in 1862 Clark was transferred to the 3rd US Infantry as a lieutenant; his time with this unit was brief. However, in early 1863, as a 1st Lieutenant he was transferred to the Department of the Gulf and attached to the newly formed 8th Corps d'Afrique US Colored Infantry. This unit soon became the 80th United States Colored Infantry; please see attached (80th United States Colored Infantry Regiment - Wikipedia). Lieutenant Clark commanded Company C for the remainder of the war. He had actively sought a position commanding men of color. Both Julius and his father were ardent abolitionists and strong proponents for the enlistment of black soldiers into the Union Army. In July 1865 Clark received an official captaincy. His records show him, still on the rolls of the 80th in the summer of 1866 but also working with the Freedman's Bureau in New Orleans and surrounds. In January and February inclusive he was serving as a founding member and captain with the 9th US Cavalry. The fame of these black troopers aka "Buffalo Soldiers" is well known. Please click on these links: (Buffalo Soldier - Wikipedia) & (9th Cavalry Regiment (United States) - Wikipedia).  Later in 1867 Clark was discharged with the rank of Brevet Major and he returned to Massachusetts to eventually study medicine.

LIEUTENANT CLARK'S SWORD: The sword is pretty much a regulation Model 1850 staff and field officer's sword except that eagle in the brass guard resembles more a Phoenix rising from the ashes. The grips 100% intact are fish skin and the original twisted wire once in place is missing. The Solingen made blade is 31 inches in length and is etched with US patriotic and foliated motifs. The blade shows much of its original burnish, but having never been cleaned, it has surface blemishes and grim. It is encased in its original fine condition brass mounted leather scabbard. Glued between the top and middle mount is a handwritten note that reads: "Sword of Captain and Brevet Major Julius S. Clark. Enlisted 4th Regiment Maine Volunteers April 27, 1861 & in continued service to March 2nd, 1867. Army Potomac, Army Gulf." On the opposite side of the scabbard is, "7 Mrs. Warren". This note was created ca. 1945 by then curator Mayo Dyer Hersey when the GAR Hall Number 4 was transforming into the Melrose Memorial Hall Museum. The number assigned the sword was "7" and the donor "Mrs. Warren" was Brevet Major Clark's daughter. Since Clark was a 1st Lieutenant with the 3rd US Infantry then one can place the swords acquisition by Clark to that time.

THE SLOUCH HAT: This wonderful condition example dates as early as April 1863 when Clark was attached as a 1st Lieutenant with the United States Colored Infantry. He was first with the 8th and subsequently this unit transformed to the 80th. It has an "80" designation but this was certainly originally only an "8" with the addition in early 1864 of the "0". The black felt hat has a brim 3 inches deep. On close examination one can discern that at one time there was a circumference of grosgrain but, certainly of silk, it is now worn off. The crown of the hat rises to 6 inches. It has a grosgrain silk baseband about 3/4 on an inch high. Around this are infantry officer's bullion cords which are 95% intact. On the front is a fine gold bullion infantry horn insignia that measures 2 1/2 inches by 1 3/4 inches. Within the loop of the horn is "80" which is sterling silver or silvered brass. The high 2-inch-high leather sweat band is hand whip stitched in place and is 100% intact. Glued on the sweat band is inventory number "7" and a scrap of paper once glued to this sweat band (now loose on a piece of Melrose Memorial Hall letter head) is "Mrs. Warren". She is the donor and daughter of Lieutenant/Captain/ Brevet Major Clark. The hat has a couple of minor tears/breaks from field service but shows no insect damage.

With the end of the Civil War Clark, now a captain (July 1865), was assigned to Louisiana's Freedman's Bureau. In January and February of 1867, he was commanding Co. C of the 9th US Cavalry the "Buffalo Soldiers". In the National Archives photo collections is a picture of him taken at that time; It shows him holding a cavalry saber and a captain's kepi while the backdrop is evidently Port Hudson Louisiana. Shortly after this Clark, breveted a major, left the service.

For years the sword and slouch hat resided in both a GAR hall and a museum where they were treasured and preserved. With a complex history this group is begging for more research and many more fascinating details on Clark's service will be made manifest.  Items related to United States Colored Soldiers are ultra-rare and highly sought after.   [pe][ph:L]

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