Presentation Sword Given by the State of Georgia to Flag Lt. Thomas M. Brumby for Manila Bay

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Historic Firearms and Early Militaria: Premie...

By Cowan's Auctions

Oct 30, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-30 10:00:00 2018-10-30 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Historic Firearms and Early Militaria: Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/historic-firearms-and-early-militaria-premier-auction-3521
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
  Presentation Sword Given by the State of Georgia to Flag Lt. Thomas M. Brumby for Manila Bay
  
  

  32" curved, single-edged, semi-quill backed blade with prominently rounded spine. 5.75" silver washed hilt with half basket guard, the seal of the State of Georgia in the face of the guard, with both a sea serpent quillon and knuckle bow. Pommel cap with an American eagle surrounded by an oval blue enamel border with the following inscription in silver: MANILA MAY 1st - 1898. White shagreen covered grooved wood grip with 11 wraps of three-strand gilt wire, the middle wire being twisted. Blade is retailer marked on the reverse ricasso, HENRY V. / ALLEN / & Co / NEW YORK . Blade is profusely etched and highlighted in gold gilt with floral, patriotic and nautical martial themes, with a full inscription on both sides of the blade, taking up about three-quarters of its length. The obverse inspection reads: Presented by the Citizens of Georgia to Lieut. Thomas M. Brumby USN in recognition of his distinguished Services to his Country at Manila Bay May 1st, 1898 . The reverse of the blade is further inscribed: Born at Marietta Georgia 1855, Appointed to Annapolis from Atlanta Georgia 1873 Graduated 1877 . The silver-plated scabbard is profusely engraved and features highly decorated chiseled German silver mounts. The upper mount with Brumby's monogram executed in rhinestones surmounting an anchor and surrounded by a rope boarder, the middle mount with the monogram USN in silver, again with a rope boarder and surmounted by an eagle. The highly ornate bottom mount consists of Poseidon atop his trident, with a mermaid arching her back forming the actual drag. The scabbard body is engraved AUG 13TH 1898 , and depicts Brumby's raising of the American flag at Manila, Brumby on the deck of his warship USS Olympia and Columbia's shield with the word OLYMPIA surmounting it. Even the suspension rings are engraved to match the balance of the scabbard. A truly impressive presentation sword from the State of Georgia to one of the central characters in the Battle of Manila Bay.
  
  Thomas Mason Brumby (1855-1899) was career naval officer who served in combat aboard the USS Olympia as Admiral George Dewey's Flag Lieutenant during the momentous Battle of Manila Bay, a signal victory over a decrepit Spanish fleet that unlocked the door to American occupation of the Philippines thrusting it on to the world stage as an colonial power. Lieutenant Brumby also made a significance contribution in negotiating with Spanish authorities leading up to the surrender of Manila. Born November 20, 1855 in Marietta, Georgia into a Cobb County planter family, Brumby's father, Arnolus Brumby, had graduated West Point with the Class of 1835, was a former Superintendent of the Georgia Military Institute before the war, and had briefly served as colonel of the 14th Georgia Infantry before resigning in November 1861. Young Brumby lived in war-torn Atlanta before entering University of Georgia where he was not an exceptional student. He transferred to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis as Cadet Midshipman on September 27, 1873 but did not graduate until June 1879. It took nearly a year before Midshipman Brumby secured a position in the run-down peacetime navy. Brumby was promoted to ensign in November 1880 and put in routine duty both at sea - training cruises along with showing the flag on foreign stations - and at various shore installations as the navy entered a sustained period of resurrection (rebirth) driven by a new breed of forward-thinking admirals bent on finally constructing and experimenting with technologically advanced sea-going steel warships. Brumby was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on April 21, 1887 and was involved in the devastating cyclone that struck a force of mildly agonistic American and German warships riding at anchor in Apia Harbor, in Samoa on March 15, 1889. Both the American and German squadrons suffered the lost three warships each while the only survivor was the modern steel warship HMS Calliope . Lieutenant Brumby was fortunate to survive the storm managing "to fight the waves after his ship was wrecked, and land on the Samoan shore."
  
  At the start of the Spanish-American War the American west coast was virtually undefended by Navy warships and the government feared that the Spanish might bombard the unprotected coast. Commodore George Dewey was put in command of the Asiatic Squadron and ordered to take the fight to the Spanish in the Philippines. Lieutenant Brumby had volunteered to accompany the squadron and having met the Commodore's criteria was selected to go as Dewey's Flag Lieutenant. The Spanish defenders were relying on shore batteries to supplement and cover their obsolete flotilla of ships anchored in Manila Bay. However, Dewey's Squadron appeared before all of the batteries were put into place, and taking advantage of intelligence supplied by the American Consul at Manila, Dewey took advantage of darkness and sailed his warships into the Bay at midnight. A general engagement commenced at first light on May 1 with the epic command, "you may fire when ready, Gridley." The Spanish flotilla was hopelessly outgunned and immobilized for mutual protection as Dewey pressed the attack, closing the range and causing unseen hits on the Spanish line. Out of futility and a sense of honor, Spanish Admiral Montojo ordered his ships that were able to weigh anchor and ram the Americans. Superior American gunnery registered hits and Montojo's ships were picked off and disabled or set on fire one at a time. Before 8am Dewey retired to "feed his crews breakfast" and to check and redistribute ammunition. Dewey commenced the attack again before 11am and this time met with only slight Spanish resistance. Montojo ordered his surviving ships to be scuttled as American shells set fire to the Spanish arsenal and a nearby government building which prompted the Spanish authorities to raise a white flag. Montojo ordered his colors to be struck at 12:40 and fighting ceased. At some point during the battle "a signal halyard being used by Brumby was sliced by enemy fire as he held it in his hands." Eleven days after the victory Dewey was promoted to rear admiral. Manila did not formally surrender until August 13, 1898 after a drawn out period of negotiations headed by Lieutenant Brumby under Admiral Dewey's supervision. It was Lieutenant Thomas Brumby who was afforded the honor of hoisting the stars and bars over the former Spanish territory as the United States found itself uncomfortably in tentative possession of a distant, unknown colony - all the vogue among the European powers - that would prove to be not easily conquered. Lieutenant Brumby was aboard the flagship Olympia as the triumphant American squadron returned home via the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal and by way of Europe. Dewey returned to the United States a national hero and shared with his officers and crew the esteemed Thanks of Congress approved by joint resolution on May 10, 1898. Admiral Dewey spoke glowingly of his Flag Lieutenant in his report of the battle to the secretary of the Navy suggesting certain acknowledgements that were never acted upon. Flag Lieutenant Brumby received, as did others, a medal by Act of Congress commemorating the battle of Manila Bay approved on June 3, 1898. Brumby was also cited by the Navy for "eminent and conspicuous conduct" during the battle "and advanced five numbers" (in seniority). Brumby's native Georgia also joined in with accolades being "honored by the Governor and State Legislature with a presentation sword" on October 29, 1899, now offered here as the enduring testament to an officer who long ago paved the way for American ascendancy on the world scene. Shortly after this sword was formally presented, Lieutenant Brumby returned to duty in Washington, D.C. and contracted typhoid fever. Unmarried, he died in Washington's Garfield Hospital on December 17, 1899, age 44. A towering obelisk now stands in honor of Lieutenant Brumby on a solitary piece of ground in Atlanta's Westview Cemetery.

  
  
  Provenance: From the Sword Collection of William Koch

  Condition

  Fine. Blade retains most of its polish and gold gilt with some loss along the edge near the point and some oxidation and surface roughness along the edge, primarily on the reverse for several inches. Grip fine, retaining some of the silver wash and with a near perfect grip wrap. Scabbard with some silver plate with most of the loss along the bottom edge, showing some scattered handling marks, surface scratches and minor scuffs.
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