What Happened to Captain Wayne's Sword?

The sword that Capt. Harley Wayne wore at the Battle of Shiloh along with his tunic (uniform top) were both returned to Ellen Wayne (his wife)

The tunic has disappeared, but the buttons have survived to this day.

His sword was later donated to the Harley Wayne Grand Army of the Republic Post 169 in nearby Marengo.  The sword "disappeared" at the same time the last post member died.

"That was probably in the 1950s," said Nancy Fike, curator of the McHenry County Historical Society museum in Union.

"The last of all those Civil War veterans died out about then and when they did, so did the Grand Army of the republic since that is what they were.

"We're lucky if we can scare up a World War I veteran now to talk to.  They're getting scarce."(This newspaper article came out in 1987.  Frank Buckles, the last-known WW I veteran died at age 110 on February 27, 2011.)

One Harley Wayne historical item has been found.  It came as it should, from an attic in Marengo.  "It's a quilt square," said Connie Parenti of Union.  "Calvin Spencer founded Marengo in 1835 and his daughter quilted."

--Old Secesh

Capt. Harley Wayne at Fort Donelson and the Rebel Officer Who Didn't Want to Give Up His Sword

From the Nay 30, 1987, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois) "The captain's word disappears" by Jeff Kuyper.

On February  16, 1862, at 10 a.m., the Confederate command at Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.

An hour later Captain Harley Wayne and the others with the 15th Illinois Volunteer Infantry were on the scene.

"I never saw such confusion and excitement as existed all around," Wayne wrote his wife later.  :We landed and touched on shore and received on board about 500 prisoners.

"I was officer if the day and it was my duty to take entire control of them.  I had to examine them individually and take away all weapons, pistols, knives and so firth.  There were a great many Bowie knives, hideous looking weapons."

Several prisoners were reluctant to turn over their weapons.

"One, an officer, yet had his sword.  I asked him to deliver it up,"  Wayne wrote in his February 18, 1862  letter home. 

(Unfortunately, the article does not say whether Harley Wayne's Confederate officer gave up his sword.  Of course, I can't imagine capturing an enemy and not immediately checking for weapons they might still have on them.)

--Old Secesh

Maj. General Loring's Remains Found Under His Monument in St. Augustine

From the August 26, 2020, First Coast ABC News "100 years later:  Confederate major general's remains exhumed  in St. Augustine  beneath removed memorial:  Who was William Loring?" by Melissa Guz.

On Wednesday, August 26, archaeologists believe they have found Gen. William Loring's remains  within a container that was buried  underneath his memorial in downtown St. Augustine.  That memorial, an obelisk, was removed on Monday as part of a relocation process and is heading to  Trout Creek Fish Camp.

His descendants had asked the University of Florida, who manages the property it is on, to remove Loring's memorial and ashes to another place.

Archaeologist Kathleen Deegan carefully worked the exposed soil under the monument and found a name plate with the words "General William...Re-enterred"  written in cursive.  Part of a sword and its scabbard, believed to be his, were also found.

Other items were also found in the dirt, however, it is difficult to determine exactly what they were because of water intrusion.

All of the items will be reburied with Loring's remains in its new location at a cemetery.

All of the items found were respectfully placed in a hearse  on Wednesday afternoon.

--Old Secesh

John Quincy Adams Ward-- Part 1: the Man Who Made the Sheridan Statue at Albany

From Wikipedia.

(June 29, 1830-May 1, 1910)

American sculptor whose most-known work is the larger-than-life-size standing statue of George Washington on the steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City.

Born in Urbana, Ohio, founded by his paternal grandfather, Col. William Ward, an American Revolution officer.  After training as a sculptor in Brooklyn, N.Y., , he went to Washington, D.C., in 1857, where he made a name for himself doing busts of prominent men. 

In 1861, he worked for the Ames Manufacturing Company  in Massachusetts  where he made models for projects, including  gilt-bronze sword hilts for Union officers.  Ames was one of the largest bronze, brass and iron  foundries in the United States at that time.

He set up a studio in New York City and pushed for an American School of Sculpture and became one of the preeminent sculptors of his generation.

--Old Secesh

George Washington's Sword

From the NYSED site

The George Washing Collection at the New York State Library.

In an earlier post I mentioned Lewis Washington's George Washington's Frederick the Great's sword and the pistols given him by Lafayette having been given by Lewis' widow to the New York State Library.  I decided to see if they still have them.

They do.

There is a picture of the sword and these words:  This is one of George Washington's swords, alleged to have been given to him by Frederick the Great of Germany.  It was frequently worn by Washington on dress occasions and is represented in the portrait painted in 1834 by Vanderlyn for the United States House of Representatives.

The Pistol (S) Next.  --Old Secesh
.

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 3: Company C, 48th Illinois

He taught school after graduation from Indiana University and studied law under his brother, Tevis Greathouse, in Vandalia, Illinois.

Greathouse enlisted and helped recruit Company C of the 48th Illinois and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually joining the regimental staff.  When he left Company C, he was given a jewel inlaid sword.

The 48th Illinois was at Vicksburg with General Grant and fought in 40 battles before going with General Sherman on his March to the Sea.

At the Battle of Atlanta there was a large brick house owned by Troupe Hurtt (or Troup Hurt House) that the Confederates were using as a stronghold.

--Old  Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood-- Part 3: Items

During his career, he acquired two swords.  The first was a foot officer's sword inscribed "Lieut. C.G. Attwood."  The second was a staff and field officer's sword inscribed on the top mount "Capt. C.G. Attwood, Boston."  The steel scabbard has all of his promotions listed as well as all of the battles he fought in.

A Maine descendant of his gave his gold bullion general's epaulets, several CDVs, a signed regimental history, a war oil painting and other items to a museum.

--Old Secesh

Emancipation Proclamation Copy Signed By Lincoln At Auction-- Part 1: Estimated Price, $2 Million

While writing about those 48 Lincoln signed copies of the Emancipation Proclamation that were sold at the Great central Fair in Philadelphia in June 1864, I got to wondering how many are still around and how much they would be worth.

What started off earlier this month as mention of Meade's spurs and Semmes' sword at the Rock Island Auctions, this has really grown into quite a project.

From the June 25, 2012, History Site  "Emancipation Proclamation Copy Signed By Lincoln For Sale" by Eliza Hanes.

On June 26, one lucky bidder can expect to pay around $2 million to own it.

I Don't have $2 Million Lying Around.  --Old Secesh

Confederate General Paul J. Semmes' Sword at Auction This Weekend

From the Rock island Auction Company ad in the April 8, 2019, Chicago Tribune.

"The most historic Confederate weapon we have ever had the pleasure to catalog."  Norman Flayderman, Catalog #109.

Lot 1108\\Incredibly important, Fresh and Well-Documented Ames inscribed officer's presentation sword and scabbard.

Presented to Confederate General Paul J. Semmes, mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.  A picture of the general accompanies the ad.

Pre-Auction estimate:  $100,000-300,000.

Sure, I've Got That Much Just Lying Around the House.  --Old SeceshCheap

Freeman Conner's Swords-- Part 2

Freeman Conner carried his second sword at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville Gettysburg, Spotsylvania and other battles.

He was born in Exeter, New Hampshire.  When his 11th New York did not reorganize in 1862, he went to New York and enlisted as a private in the new 44th New York Infantry and then became captain of Co. D, where he got his first sword.  Later, he was promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel.

Both swords surfaced in August 1995 at a house for sale in Glencoe, Illinois, -- not far from Lake Forest Academy where Conner taught before the Civil War.  The two swords were sold to two different individuals that day.

They were reunited by Chicago collector Richard K. Tibbals in September 2001.

The two swords did not sell at the auction in 2005.

Always interesting on hearing what happened to items after the war.

--Old Secesh

Freeman Conner's Swords-- Part 1: Two Offered at Auction in 2005

From the Cowan's Auctions site.

These two swords were offered at a November 2005 auction by the company.

One of the two swords was bullet struck.  Freeman Conner and the 44th New York were instrumental in the defense of the Little Round Top on July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg.

The sword is inscribed:  "Capt. Freeman Conner / from Company D / P.E.R. (People's Ellsworth Regiment?) /  The flat side was struck by a bullet and evidently the sword was out when struck.

Conner was promoted to major in July 1862 and suffered the first of two wounds at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862.

--Old Secesh

Meanwhile in My Civil War Naval Blog, Running the Blockade: Shaw's Sword and the Junior Reserves and Confederate Conscription

The last week I have been writing about the discovery of Col. Robert Gould Shaw's sword in my Naval blog.  He, of course, was the commander of the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the Union Army's first black regiment who performed so honorably at Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor in 1863.

He was killed leading his men and his sword taken and later returned  to his family and then "lost" for many years until being found in a family member's attic.

Even though he was leading an Army regiment, I am writing about his sword in my naval blog because it involved a coastal fortification.

Yesterday, I also posted about the North Carolina Junior Reserves and Confederate conscription in the naval blog.  Even though this is primarily an army thing, since the Junior reserves were at Fort Fisher, I am writing about it there.

--Old Secesh

I'd Much Rather Be Doing This One On the Discovery of Col. Shaw's Sword, 54th Massachusetts

I would much rather be doing entries on the Civil War, the original Civil War, not the new one. I call Civil War II.  As long as these horrible attacks continue on my heritage, I will continue to defend.

From the July 13, 2017, CBS News, Boston  "Civil War Colonel Robert Gould Shaw's long-lost sword found in attic."

He was the commanding officer of the Union's first all-black regiment, the 54th Massachusetts, and his sword has been given by his descendants to the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston.  There is a famous statue of Shaw and the 54th in front of the Massachusetts State House.

In 1863, he led the 54th in a valiant, but futile, attack on the Confederate Fort Wagner guarding Charleston, South Carolina in an exploit made famous by the 1989 critically acclaimed movie "Glory."  He was killed in action and his sword stolen.

It was recently discovered in a Boston North Shore family attic by Mary Minturn Wood and her brother, descendants of Shaw's sister Susannah.  When they saw the initials "RGS" engraved on the sword, they knew it was his and they decided to gift it  to the historical society even though they could have made a lot of money at auction.

The sword went on display at the Massachusetts Historical Society on  Tuesday, the 18th of July.

More Power to the Family for Gifting It Instead of Selling It At Auction.  --Old Secesh

Lt.-Colonel James M. Green's Sword Comes to Long Island-- Part 2

James Green re-enlisted in the 48th New York Infantry and became the captain of Company F in August 1861.  Promoted to major in June 1861, when he was presented with the sword, and then later that year became the regiment's lieutenant-colonel.

On July 18, 1863, the 48th New York and 54th Massachusetts and other units assaulted Confederate defenses at Fort/Battery Wagner on Morris Island in which Lt.-Col. James M. Green was killed.

His remains were buried in a mass grave and never recovered.

In 1932, his niece Georgiana Ring green donated his possessions, including his shoulder straps, field saber and this presentation sword to the Smithsonian.  After they were taken off display the Long Island Museum asked for the sword's loan and received it.

--Old Secesh

Lt. Colonel Green's Sword Comes to Long Island-- Part 1

This is the man who Fort Green on Folly Island was named after he died at Fort Wagner.

From the October 27, 2014, Smithsonian "A Civil War treasure returns to Long Island" by Joshua Ruff of the Long Island Museum of American Arts, History and Carriages.

The sword is three feet long with a silver grip and a gilt decorated blade.  The inscription reads: "Presented to Major James M. Green, 48th Reg. N.Y.S.V. by the members of Company F.  The sword and scabbard were loaned by the Smithsonian to the Long island museum.

More than 36,000 Long Islanders served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Green was a 32-year-old Brooklyn resident when he enlisted in the 71st New York Infantry Regiment as a private and fought at the Battle of First Bull Run.

--Old Secesh

Canada Returns Col. Tew's Sword-- Part 6: How the Silver Cup Was Returned

In 1873, a traveler aboard a boat in New York met a man, J.W. Bean, from New Hampshire and talked about the Civil War.  The traveler knew Col, Charles Tew and mentioned the story of Tew;s father going to Dry Totugas near Key West while looking for the sword.

Bean had been at the Battle of Antietam and had come across Col. Tew's body.  he had the silver cup and then returned it to Tew's family.

That cup was given by Caroline Sloan's mother to her son, Charles Courtenay Sloan.  She said she had polished it as the family intends to make the trip to the Citadel to loan it for a year.  She kind of thinks her son will eventually loan it to the school on a permanent basis.

--A great Story.  --Old Secesh

Canada Returns Col. Tew's Sword-- Part 5: Coming Home

Michael martin had much difficulty "alienating" Col. Charles Tew's sword, but stayed true to his purpose and this past March got the go ahead to return the sword.

Not much is known for sure about how the sword got from the Antietam battlefield to the Blythe family.  But evidence shows that it was likely acquired by Captain Francis J. Sauter of the 55th Ohio who might have had it shipped home before he was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville in March 1863.

On Wednesday, the Citadel will send 9 cadets, 4 faculty members and other supporters to the Antietam battlefield to receive the sword from Canada.

The sword will eventually go to the Citadel's Daniel Library for display where it will be reunited with Tew's silver cup.  The library also has Tew's diploma, some of his letters and other documents.

--Old Secesh

Canada Returns Col. Tew's Sword to Citadel-- Part 4: Sword in Canada

A New York native by the name of Amelia Blythe had moved to Ottawa, Canada, in 1963 and donated the sword to the 763 Communications Regt. of the Canadian Army, now the 33 Signal Regt..

Caroline Sloan, of Portland, Oregon, the colonel's great-great granddaughter.  Her father, Edward Sloan graduated from the Citadel in 1950 and started his own search for the sword.  He got a precise description of the sword and began distributing it and received responses.  Then came the internet.

For a generation, the  sword had been on display inside the Mess at Wallis House, a landmark building in Ottawa that eventually fell into disrepair.  The sword's nameplate read "The Cadets of the Arsenal Academy to Capt.  C.C. Tew, November 25, 1858."  The regiment had the sword and other items appraised in 2009 when they were moving to a new home.

Genuine Civil War swords like it sell for between $20,000 to $30,000, but its connection to Charles Tew made it even more valuable.

Michael Martin,chairman of the 33 Signal Regt. Foundation worked to have it "alienated" from Canada as not having any value to the country.  This was necessary before it could be returned.

--Old Secesh

Canada Returns Col. Tew's Sword to the Citadel-- Part 3: Searching for the Sword

The Citadel had a cadet and 25 alumni at the Battle of Antietam in 1862.  Two were killed and four wounded.

Charles Tew was shot in the head and among the hundreds of Confederates buried in mass graves.  Their bodies were eventually relocated to cemeteries in Maryland and West Virginia.  His final resting place is unknown and age at death was 34.

After the war, his father began searching for the sword, cup and pocket watch his son had with him at his death.  All they knew was that he was shot along the Sunken Road.

Sometime in 1870, his father got a letter from Ohio saying the sword was hanging at the Odd fellows Hall in Norwalk.  A family friend went there, but it was gone.

Then, there was nothing new for 145 years.

--Old Secesh

Canada to Return Col. Tew's Long-Lost Sword-- Part 2: Military Academies

The return of Col. Charles Tew's sword to the Citadel will be celebrated with three days of activities.

Col. Charles Courtenay Tew was a Charleston native and among the Citadel's first 26 cadets, reporting to the school in 1843.  He graduated in 1846 and later taught at the Arsenal, a Columbia, S.C. military school that was the Citadel's sister institution.

The cadets there gave him the sword when he left to establish the Hillsborough Military Academy in North Carolina.

During the Civil War, Col. Tew led the 2nd North Carolina and carried the sword along with him, along with a silver cup given him by the Hillsborough cadets.  Later, he decided that he could be of more use to the Confederacy by returning to teaching and submitted his resignation.  before it was accepted, there came the Battle of Antietam.

--Old Secesh