Ames Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's Sword Inscribed to Lt. Albion W. Tourgee - 105th OH Infantry - Captured by John Hunt Morgan's Raiders
American Civil War
30.25" slightly curved single-edged spear point blade, overall length 36.25". 6" hilt has a gilt brass guard with a US in the face, a shagreen covered grooved wood grip and fourteen wraps of twisted wire. The obverse of the blade is etched in three lines forward of the ricasso: Ames Mfg. Co./Chicopee/Mass. The blade is etched with flowing foliate themes, as well as martial and patriotic images with a large US in the center of the reverse. The sword is accompanied by its blued steel, gilt brass mounted scabbard with a three-line Ames marking on the reverse of the upper mount. The obverse of the upper mount is engraved: A Werncker Tourgee/Lt. 105th Ohio Vols. The sword is accompanied by what is identified as Tourgee's burgundy silk officer's sash, a large binder of research and information about Tourgee and seven books, four written by Tourgee after the war and three about him.

Albion W. Tourgee (1838-1905) is probably one of the most recognized Union officers who served in the western theater during the American Civil War, although his name is not widely known. He is the left most officer pictured in the well known and widely published image of three 105th OH officers on the march, which has been titled "Officers Three". The image depicts three grizzled company grade officers from the 105th OH on the march, wearing US Pattern 1858 Dress Hats, canteens and haversacks hitched up, coats open and swords carried somewhat casually and carelessly. The image was struck in Dechard, TN in late 1863. In the image, Tougee holds a partially eaten piece of hardtack in the left hand.

Albion W Tourgee, a native of Ohio, began his military career on May 7, 1861 when he enlisted in Company E of the 27th New York Infantry as a sergeant in Rochester, NY. Like so many of the early war volunteer regiments the 27th first saw the elephant at the 1st Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. There the regiment suffered some 62 casualties, including 14 killed, 15 wounded, 30 captured and 3 missing. Slightly less than three weeks later, in a small action near Bull Run, VA sergeant Tourgee was wounded in the back near his spine, a wound that would trouble him throughout his life. On August 21, 1861 Tourgee was discharged from the service for disability. He returned to his home of Ashtabula, OH where he read law at the firm of Sherman & Farmer until the wound had healed enough that he could return to service. On July of 1862 he enlisted in the 105th OH Volunteer Infantry and was commissioned a 1st lieutenant in Company G on August 20. The first major engagement for the 105th was at the Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862, from which the regiment moved to northern Middle Tennessee and western Kentucky where it spent most of its time in operations against Confederate cavalry commander John Hunt Morgan. During Morgan's Christmas Raid through this region, Tourgee and 118 other members of the 105th OH were captured by Morgan. Tourgee would be exchanged at City Point, VA on May 8, 1863 after having been held in a number of Confederate prisons. Tourgee returned to his command in time to take part in the Tullhoma Campaign, Battle of Chickamauga, Siege of Chattanooga and the Battle of Missionary Ridge. On December 6, 1863 Tourgee resigned from the 105th OH.

After the war Tourgee worked as an attorney and judge with much of his time spent in the south during reconstruction. He wrote a book about this time and several other books in the post war era, with four of his books included. Tourgee died in Bordeaux, France on May 21, 1905.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.
From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

Very good. Blade lightly cleaned with much of the polish and frosty etching intact, showing some scattered surface oxidation and freckled discoloration. Hilt with traces of gilt, grip with some wear. Wire intact, as is throat washer. Scabbard with some blue, showing a moderately oxidized brown patina and freckled areas of oxidized surface roughness. Metal with some lightly scattered minor dings.