CIVIL WAR FOOT OFFICER SWORD PRESENTED TO LT EDWARD EDGERLY, 79TH PA VOLUNTEERS

A nice example of a Civil War M1850 foot officer's sword that was presented to a hard-fought officer in a Pennsylvania regiment. The upper mount is engraved, "Presented to / Lieut Edward Edgerley / By Co. K 79th Regt / Pa. V." Edgerly (1837-1915) was a carriage maker in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when he enlisted 9/16/1861 and mustered in as 1st Sergeant, Co. K 79th PA Vols. on 9/16/1861, serving until muster out with the regiment in July 1865. The regiment was very active in the western theatre, from November 1862 as part of the 14th Army Corps, and a 1903 biography states that Edgerley was not absent from active duty for a single day from sickness or any other cause, participating in all the regiment's engagements. These included Perryville, Kentucky, Oct. 1862, where the regiment lost 37 killed, 149 wounded, and just 3 missing, after which he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant as of 11/1/62; Stones River, or Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Dec. 1862 and Jan. 1863; Hoover's Gap, Tennessee, June, 1863; and Chickamauga, Georgia, September 1863, where it lost 129 out of 367 engaged. It fought again at Tunnel Hill, Georgia, in February, 1864, after which he reenlisted as a veteran and saw further action in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign at Buzzard's Roost, Snake Creek, Resaca, and Dallas, in May, followed by New Hope Church and Kennesaw Mountain in June; Chattahoochee River and Peach Tree Creek in July; the siege of Atlanta and battles at Utoy Creek and Jonesboro, shortly after which he was promoted to Captain to date 9/11/1864; the March to the Sea, the Siege of Savannah, and Sherman's 1865 Campaign of the Carolinas, where it suffered 13 killed and 46 wounded at Bentonville, one of the last battles. During the war, the regiment lost a total of 4 officers and 118 enlisted men, just those killed or mortally wounded, an indication of the severity of its service. Edgerley returned to Lancaster and carriage-making after the war but also served in several civic offices, including county treasurer and the Mayor of Lancaster from 1888-1890. As a presentation by the company to him as Lieutenant, the sword likely dates to his promotion from 1st Sergeant, the senior company non-commissioned officer, in November 1862, and could well have been carried even after his promotion to Captain, both ranks carrying the same pattern of sword. This sword is in regulation configuration with a blade decorated for about half its length with foliate and patriotic motifs. No visible maker mark. Decorations are muted by a gray patina. Hilt with open scrollwork on guard and wood grip, grooved and wrapped with sharkskin and brass wire. The hilt exhibits a pleasing patina with nice traces of original gilding. Grip is intact, with areas of exposed wood and slightly loose wire. Complete with a black leather scabbard that features brass mounts that exhibit older polishing. Scabbard appears to have been repaired, but fits like a glove. Presentation is soft but legible. Mounts exhibit scattered dents, especially on the drag. CONDITION: Good.

Item Dimensions: L: 41"