CALIFORNIA RANGER: 1853.
CONNOR, PATRICK EDWARD. 1820-1891. Group of 3 swords, 2 of them with presentations.
1. Elaborate presentation sword by Clauberg, Solingen, 35 inch blade with gilt panels reading 'U.S.' and 'Union Forever,' hilt in silvered white metal in the form of a gladiator clad in a lion skin, with shield, helmet and gladius. Scabbard in gilt white metal with foliate fittings, engraved with foliate scrolls, draped flags and fort scene, set with faceted pastes (most lacking). Inscribed on the scabbard: 'Testatment of Esteem from the Citizens of Stockton California to Brigadier Gen. P. Edward Connor, July 4 — U.S.V. — 1865 / aut Vincere aut Mori.' Blade cracked and repaired with steel splint, gilding rubbed to about 60% remaining, scabbard with dark patina, several faceted stones lacking.
2. Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Saber, unmarked, with 35 inch blade, steel scabbard engraved on the mid hanger with presentation: 'Presented to P.E. Connor, 3rd Reg. C.V. / By the Montgomery Guard, Co. A. 2nd I. Irish Battalion S.F. Cal..' Brass guard with pebbled leather wire-wrapped grip. Heavy old pitting to scabbard (with one point rusted through), dark rusted patina to blade, grip leather crumbling.
3. Later veteran's dress sword by A. Schreiber, c. 1880, narrow 34-inch polished steel blade with etched decorative panels of eagle, flag and 'U.S.' motifs, scabbard in gilt steel with gilt brass fittings, guard with eagle and stars in relief, pebbled leather wire-wrapped grip. Patina and surface residue, otherwise very good condition.
WITH: Dress uniform belt of black velvet with heavy silver bullion embroidery, 1-3/4 inches in width, with steel buckle. Velvet heavily worn, silver embroidery darkened.

Patrick Edward Connor, born Patrick Edward O'Connor, immigrated with his family to the United States when he was a boy and lived in New York City until he enlisted as a private in the Army in 1839. He eventually was assigned to Company I, First Dragoons headquartered in Des Moines. He served 5 years in the far west, but it wasn't until he re-enlisted with the First Regiment, Texas Foot Rifles in 1846 to aid in the Mexican-American War that he came to prominence. He was made First Lieutenant under Captain Charles A. Seefeld and made Captain when Seefeld resigned at the end of 1846. Connor and his men were at the center of General Zachary Taylor's battle line near the Hacienda at Buena Vista on February 22-23, 1847. Connor received a bullet in his left hand, but still he pressed on and helped turn the tide of the battle. 'Encouraged by the decisive action of Connor and the other officers, many of the departing soldiers rallied around the Texas Volunteers to make a last desperate stand. Suddenly a force of Mexican cavalry descended on them and it appeared they would be wiped out. But to the Mexicans' surprise, 'the cornered prey opened up with a volley that emptied saddles for several minutes. What might have been utter annihilation of the Texas infantry was averted'' (Madsen p 23).
Connor traveled to California in 1850 and after a number of enterprises was hired as one of 4 lieutenants of the newly-raised California Rangers under Captain Harry Love. The company was set up 1853 to rid California of the Five Joaquins, a band of Gold Country robbers led by Mexican outlaw Joaquin Murrieta, who were responsible for over 20 murders. The California Rangers were an early precursor to the California State Police. The company disbanded after they found the outlaw and brought back his severed head.
Connor set up his home in Stockton, California where he helped to organize the Stockton Blues, a city military company. He was involved in politics, was a contractor and pursued mining opportunities before volunteering with the Union Army in August 1861. He received a commission as colonel of the Third Regiment, California Infantry and eventually was promoted to Brigadier General. He spent his time not battling Rebels in the southeast US, but Native Americans in the West. He helped establish Camp Douglas 3 miles east of Salt Lake City to protect the overland mail route and telegraph lines, but also to keep watch over the Mormons, who were seen by some government officials, including Connor, as disloyal to the American cause.
Connor was responsible for the controversial 1863 Shoshoni Massacre at Bear River in Southern Idaho in which 250 northwestern Shoshoni were killed. He later led the Powder River Expedition as well. The US relationship with the Native Americans was a complicated issue as Western expansion was gravely affecting the Native American's way of life, impacting their food supply, water and claiming their long-held lands. They, in turn took offensive action against the Western emigrants. Mark Twain, quoted in the Alta California of August 11, 1867: 'I am waiting patiently to hear that they have ordered General Connor out to polish off those Indians, but the news never comes. He has shown that he knows how to fight the kind of Indians that God made, but I suppose the humanitarians want somebody to fight the Indians that J. Fenimore Cooper made. There is just where the mistake is. The Cooper Indians are dead - died with their creator. The kind that are left are of altogether a different breed, and cannot be successfully fought with poetry, and sentiment, and soft soaps, and magnanimity.'
Connor mustered out of the Army in 1866 as a Major General and continued to pursue mining interests he had begun while in the Army dividing his time among Utah, Nevada and California.

Madsen, Brigham D. Glory Hunter: A Biography of Patrick Edward Connor. Salt Lake City, 1990.
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