Major Durgin's Civil War Presentation Sword

Object Name/Title

Major Durgin's Civil War Presentation Sword

Catalog Number

111-0159

Physical Description

A ceremonial presentation sword from 1862 featuring a straight, bright-finished blade with a tapering profile typical of military presentation swords of the period. The blade has a bright polished finish and appears to be in good condition. When drawn from its scabbard, the sword displays a pleasing contrast between the bright steel blade and the ornate brass furniture.

Sword Type

American Civil War Presentation Sword

Date of Creation

circa 1862

Component Materials

Blade: Polished steel
Guard: Cast brass with detailed pierced work
Grip: Leather wrapped with twisted brass wire
Scabbard: Painted iron body with cast brass mounts
Mounts: Cast brass fittings including suspension bands and drag

Measurements

Overall length: 37 3/4 inches (95.9 cm)
Overall width: 4 1/2 inches (11.4 cm)
Blade length: 29 7/8 inches (75.9 cm)
Blade width at base: 1 1/8 inches (2.9 cm)
Grip length: 7 7/8 inches (20 cm)
Weight: 3 pounds 1 ounce (1,389 g)

Edge Configuration

Straight, single-fullered blade with a symmetrical taper to a spear point.

Fuller Details

Single central fuller running most of the blade's length, typical of American Civil War-era presentation swords. The fuller appears to be cleanly executed and well-preserved.

Guard Style

Half-basket guard in brass featuring a pierced, multi-branched design with four main structural elements forming an open basketwork pattern. The guard exhibits high-quality lost-wax casting with crisp detail in the decorative elements, including the eagle motif and floral designs. The branches of the guard smoothly integrate with the knucklebow, providing both protection and aesthetic appeal.

Pommel Type

Features a bust of George Washington in profile, with the forward border decorated with floral sprays and a mother of pearl oval engraved with two oak leaves surrounding an acorn. A laurel wreath surrounds the crown.

Scabbard Details

Iron scabbard with black painted finish, featuring three brass mounts (two suspension bands and a drag). The brass mounts show fine quality casting with clear, well-defined floral patterns and oak leaf motifs. The suspension bands are properly positioned for period carry methods, and the drag shows appropriate period styling with acorn finial. The scabbard appears to retain most of its original black finish with expected wear patterns.

Object History

Presented to Captain Jeremiah S. Durgin (1810-1867) of Company E, 7th New Hampshire Regiment Infantry, commemorating his service as Provost Marshal at Saint Augustine, Florida in 1862. Durgin arrived in St. Augustine on September 3, 1862, where he was appointed Provost Marshal. He was responsible for military police duties and civilian oversight under martial law, including gambling suppression and supervision of hotels, saloons, and brothels. He administered the oath of allegiance to civilians and was noted in regimental history as "Beloved by both officers and men" for his fair and attentive leadership. He was promoted to Major on September 30, 1864.

Subject Terms

Civil War presentation swords; American military artifacts; Provost Marshal regalia; 19th century ceremonial weapons; Civil War officer's swords; Florida Civil War artifacts

Temporal and Spatial Coverage

Temporal and Spatial Coverage:
Temporal: American Civil War, 1862
Spatial: St. Augustine, Florida, United States

Related Collections

The F.E. Williams III Collection of Antique Weapons and Artifacts

Collection Attribution

Frederick Eugene Williams III (known as Jack Williams), Collector

References and Citations

The 7th New Hampshire Takes Over (Regimental History), from St. Augustine in the Civil War p3 by Gil Wilson

Our War, blog about the book Our War by Mike Pride, Sunday, Lost and found: Jeremiah Durgin's sword

The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion, By Henry F. W. Little

The Calvin Shedd Papers, Special Collections University of Miami Libraries

Rights Statement

© weaponscollector.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Attribution required: "From the F.E. Williams III Collection at weaponscollector.com"