1860's NON-REGULATION INFANTRY OFFICER'S CIVIL WAR SWORD By FRIEDRICH POETTER

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Vary rare and original, 1860's Civil War, Non-Regulation Officer's Sword and Scabbard belonging to Lucius V. S. Mattison who was mustered into service in December, 1861 as a private in Company D of the 81st Regiment, New York Infantry and served throughout the Civil War raising to the rank of Lieut. Colonel when mustered out in July of 1865. Mattison led troops of the 81st NY who were among the first to Enter Richmond, Virginia when the Confederate Capitol fell. The report of his death in “The National Tribune” newspaper (Washington, D.C. - April 27, 1911) reads in part: “Col L. V. S. Mattison, the man who tore down the stars and bars from the flagstaff when the Union forces entered Richmond, died at his home in Oswego N Y-- aged 67 years. Col Mattison was one of the best known veterans in northern and central New York. At the age of 17 he was enroled a private of Co D 8lst N Y and served thru to the close of the war. He was in 22 engagements and left the service with the commission of a Lieutenant. He was in charge of Castle Thunder and Libby Prison while in Richmond and was the first to release, without waiting for orders, between 300 and 400 union prisoners confined there” Mattison has been called the “liberator” of Castle Thunder and possessed well documented Keys to both Libby Prison and Castle Thunder (which we are also selling this week on eBay). He was also a prominent member of the GAR throughout the later years of his life. The Sword is a Non-Regulation Officer's Sword with its original Scabbard (as described in Peterson's page 83). Blade measures 32" and is marked on the ricasso with the letters "F.P." under a hare's head - these being the mark of Friedrich Poetter (Friedrich Poetter was a German sword maker who manufactured regulation and non-regulation pattern Swords and Scabbards for export to the United States to meet the huge demand at the start of the Civil War). Overall length including the grip is approx. 37". This quite heavy Officer's Sword has a leather wrapped grip (over wood) with a triple brass wire in the grip channels. The guard (quillon) is iron and features a spread wing eagle grasping olive branches in its right talons and arrows in its left. The eagle is perched on the letters "U S" and is surmounted by a banner with the words "E Pluribus Unum". The blade is plain with no etching and has a wide fuller. The Scabbard is original to the Sword and is made of iron retaining its original fittings and hangers (also iron). It measures 33 1/4". This is a campaign used, Civil War, Non-Regulation Officer’s Sword which belonged to a prominent, New York Infantry Soldier and Officer. The Sword is intact and complete with no physical damage to any of the metal parts - no breaks, cracks, separation and no repairs of any kind. The cutting edge of the blade has no damage or dings and the tip is undamaged. The Sword has never been sharpened or cleaned and the blade as well as the quillon have surface oxidation. We have made no attempt to polish or even clean this wonderful Sword but it does appear that there is some light pitting to the blade which appears to be most pronounced on the surface of the fuller. The leather wrap of the grip is well preserved with 2 small surface nicks and the grip wire is complete and intact. The Scabbard is in very good condition - sound and intact with one small and shallow dent. There is also surface oxidation to the Scabbard that appears to have resulted in some light pitting. Please see the numerous scans below for a good indication of the condition of this outstanding Civil War Sword and Scabbard. This very rare and original, Civil War Non-Regulation Officer’s Sword came to us directly from the descendents of the original owner - Lieut. Colonel Lucius V. S. Mattison - along with a number of other items from the time of his service during the Civil War. We have been selling items from this outstanding, fresh to the market collection over the past few weeks and the items being offered this week are among the last from this group. This wonderful Ci... read more

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