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THBAmes Presentation Naval Sword To Lieut James Lawrence Parker From The City Of Pittsburgh Pa July 4th 1847
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Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveOct 30, 2018
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction, with a focus on the Civil War. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
Ames Presentation Naval Sword To Lieut James Lawrence Parker From The City Of Pittsburgh Pa July 4th 1847
31.25" double-edged spear point blade with nearly full-length median fuller. 5.75" hilt terminating in a spread-winged eagle pommel cap. Frosty etched blade with foliate scrolls, floral themes, panoplies of arms on both sides and an American eagle on the obverse. Blade also etched Ames Manfg Co / Cabotville / Mass in an oval panel on the reverse at the ricasso. Silver hilt with alternating grip panels of engraved silver and mother of pearl. Cross guard in the form of flowing feathers. with small shield shaped counter-guards. Obverse counter-guard with copper panel engraved with the Fortress at San Juan De Ulloa and the Mexican Brig Creole. Silver-plated brass scabbard with highly embellished decorative mounts and engraved with patriotic, martial and floral themes. The upper mount is engraved with the initials JLP and between the upper and middle mounts the following presentation is engraved: To Lieut. JAMES LAWRENCE PARKER from / his fellow Citizens of Pittsburgh Pa July 4th / 1847 / CAPTURE of the CREOLE, wreck if the SINERS / TUXPAN . Scabbard with three suspension rings.
A native of New Hampshire, James Lawrence Parker had joined the navy as midshipman in June 1831 and was promoted to lieutenant in in September 1841. With the advent of the Mexican War, Lieutenant Parker was serving as executive officer of the brig Somers , a ship vexed by the stigma of mutiny. The ill-fated Somers was captained by future Confederate luminary Raphael Semmes and Lieutenant Parker is mentioned in a familiar tone in Service Afloat and Ashore During the Mexican War published by Semmes in 1851. While Semmes did not participate in the daring foray, his report reflects approvingly, "...Lieutenant Parker, accompanied by Passed Midshipman Rodgers and Hynson, with five seamen, performed the clever exploit of burning the Mexican Merchant brig Creole, under the wall of San Juan de Ulloa. They pulled in, under the cover of night, and boarding the vessel without opposition, fired her in several places, and departed unmolested; although within pistol range of the castle. Some little noise having been made aboard the brig, when they were in the act of boarding, they were hailed by one of the sentinels; Lieutenant Parker speaking the language like a native, gave some satisfactory reply, and they were not further noticed." A few weeks later, on December 8, 1846, the unlucky Somers capsized in a sudden gale "while endeavoring to cut off a vessel, which was apparently intending to run the blockade." The brig went down quickly with the loss of 39 crewmen drowned. Semmes' official report to Secretary of the Navy, John Y. Mason, specifically mentioned the composure of Lieutenant Parker as he oversaw one of the doomed ship's boats being filled with men who could not swim. Parker managed to survive the violent ordeal, was advanced to flag lieutenant and assigned as aide to Commodore Matthew Perry, recently promoted to command of the Home Squadron.
The intrepid small boat action at San Juan de Ulloa occurred during the joint army-navy investment of Vera Cruz and was widely reported along the eastern seaboard by the popular press. The January 12, 1847 edition of the Richmond Whig and Advertiser proclaimed, "The citizens of Philadelphia have determined to present Lieut. James Lawrence Parker a handsome Naval Sword, a pair of Epaulettes and a full suit Uniform, for his daring exploit in burning the Mexican Brig Creole, while moored to the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and for his noble conduct in refusing to leave the unfortunate brig Somers, until she had sunk into the depths of the ocean." The whereabouts' of Parker's epaulettes and uniform are unknown, if they survive, as only the sword was found. Similarly, on January 14, 1847 the South Carolina Patriot reported details of the "gallant exploit" and the presentation of a "splendid sword." As well, several of the Manifest Destiny charged populist histories published shortly after the end of the war mention Lieutenant Parker, one of the few bona fide naval heroes to emerge from the conflict. Hutchinson's composite Illustrated American History appeared in 1849 and described the deed in plain terms, as "very daring and brave" (p.51), while John Frost's substantive The Mexican War and its Warriors characterized the act as "one of the most daring achievements of the war." (p.214).
In April 1847 the recently elevated Commodore Perry planned to capture the fortified town of Tuxpan, the last remaining Mexican bastion on the Gulf coast. Perry's combined naval and marine flotilla - the Mosquito Fleet - consisting of five warships with barges of sailors and marines in tow ascended the Tuxpan River on April 18, 18547 and quickly stormed the town complex routing the 650 man Mexican garrison commanded by General Martin de Cos, a veteran of the Alamo and brother-in-law of Santa Anna. Lieutenant Parker, serving as aide to Commodore Perry, was one of fourteen American casualties, reported as "wounded" in Perry's official report. The extent of Parker's injury is unknown, however the heroic officer died in hospital at Vera Cruz on July 12, 1847. Parker likely had accompanied Perry on his June expedition against Tabasco and died after contracting yellow fever "that struck many sailors and marines." News of Lieutenant Parker's death was widely circulated. The first report appeared in the Philadelphia Enquirer on August 2, 1847 via a New Orleans Times correspondent, followed later in the week by a second story in the hometown New Hampshire Patriot . The August 10, 1847 edition of the New Hampshire Gazette reported Lieutenant Parker "recently deceased of fever at Vera Cruz." The August 17, 1847 Richmond Enquirer carried Perry's own somber report verbatim, "It is with sincere regret that I announce to the department the death, last evening, at a minute past 11 o' clock, of Lieutenant James L. Parker, my aide and Flag Lieutenant. Mr. Parker has been with me on all my latest expeditions..." It is unknown what became of remains of the celebrated national hero.
Decorations for heroism had not yet come into use in the American military at the time of the Mexican War. This rare heirloom sword given to a regular officer in recognition of gallant service was in lieu of any official navy or government award reflecting the norm of the 19th century. The paper "Certificate of Merit" was authorized only in 1847 for enlisted men while the Medal of Honor (navy version) was not instituted until 1861. Typically, brevet rank was awarded to army officers while reserved for a handful of extraordinary individuals was the "Joint Resolution of Congress" - the most esteemed form of recognition - conveyed to the nation's highest ranking recipients. One hundred seventy-one years ago Lieutenant James Lawrence Parker burst on to the national scene for a fleeting moment, his daring exploits at Vera Cruz enshrined for posterity by a pair of incredible companion presentation swords reflecting the appreciation of the citizenry of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.Very good. Blade with most of the etching clear, showing some surface oxidation, as well as a few small areas of surface corrosion, most notably on the obverse ricasso. Blade slightly loose in hilt. Hilt very good with a nice, dark, tarnished appearance and some minor cracking at the upper rear of one of the mother of pearl grip scales. One wing of the pommel cap eagle is broken and the other is cracked. Scabbard very good as well.Condition
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