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THBPresentation Sword to Colonel A.M. Mitchell by the Citizens of Cincinnati
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
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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
Presentation Sword to Colonel A.M. Mitchell by the Citizens of Cincinnati
30.25" double-edged straight blade with narrow, 20" median fuller. 6" gilt brass hilt with a large spread-winged eagle with crystal eyes as the pommel cap and a pair of dogs heads that form the quillons of the 5.25" straight guard. A gilt chain knuckle guard is secured to a ring in the eagle's beak and to the upper neck of the lower dog. Mother-of-pearl grip scales set with three rubies on the obverse, measuring 8mm x 7mm, 5mm x 5mm and 4mm x 4mm and a small gilt plate on the reverse. Dog's eyes of matching dark red stones, possibly garnets. Folding counter-guard, relief cast with a kneeling angel surmounting a panoply of arms, presenting a tablet that says " MONTEREY ". Reverse of blade etched with frosty foliate patterns and scrolls, panoplies of arms and a spread winged Eagle with the motto E Pluribus Unum in a ribbon in its beak. Obverse of blade etched with similar foliate and martial themes with the central panel reading: MONTEREY, SEPT 21st 22nd 23rd in a horizontal line, with the year 1846 in a vertical arc, below an American Eagle with 11 stars over its head. The obverse ricasso is also etched with the retailer information: A.E. WARNER BAL in an arc. The sword is accompanied by its profusely engraved brass scabbard with nearly full coverage, including panels with an American eagle with a snake in its mouth, a reference to the Mexican eagle and snake symbol, numerous martial images, including panoplies of arms, crossed cannons and flags and banners. Foliate themes abound as well. The central panel on the obverse of the scabbard appears to show American troops marching into the walled city of Chapultepec, with a smaller panel showing the sunrise over distant hills with the flotsam of battle scattered on the field. The frog button on the scabbard is in the form of Columbia's shield and an engraved American eagle appears to perch upon the hook. The reverse of the scabbard is engraved with the following presentation in five lines: Citizens of Cincinnati / to / COL. A. M. MITCHELL / 1st Regt. Ohio Volunteers / MONTEREY - Sept 21, 22, 23, 1846 . A truly stunning Mexican War presentation sword, comemmorating one of the key battles of that conflict.
Alexander M. Mitchell (18??-1861) was born in North Carolina and entered the Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1830. Due to a bout of sickness he graduated on July 1, 1835 (29th) whereupon he was commissioned brevet 2nd Lieutenant, 4th United States Infantry. The Class of 1835 included a few notables including George Gordon Meade (19th) and Herman Haupt (31st), the supremely talented Superintendent of the United States Military Railroad during the Civil War. Lt. Mitchell first served in garrison at Baton Rouge and New Orleans during 1835-36 and moved with General Gaines and the 4th Infantry to Florida with the outbreak of the second Seminole War. While marching with inconclusive Gaines' Expedition the remains of the Dade massacre victims were found and buried. During this time Lt. Mitchell was engaged in skirmishes against Indians at Camp Izard, February 27-29, 1836, and March 5, and the actions at Oloklikaha on March 31 and Thlouotosassa a year later on April 27, 1836. Mitchell resigned from the army on March 25, 1837 and was employed a government contract civil engineer during 1837-38. Mitchell had married in Indiana in1837 and is listed as Chief Engineer of the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal in 1838, and Chief Engineer for the Territory of Wisconsin in 1839-40. Mitchell then removed to Cincinnati where he practiced law in the city from 1841 to 1846.
With the outbreak of the Mexican War and with the benefit of some prior military experience, Mitchell was appointed Colonel of the 1st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry on June 23, 1846. He led the regiment to Mexico and fought under Zachary Taylor at Monterey where he was wounded during General Butler's assault on the city's eastern fortifications at Fort Teneria on September 22, 1846 (see Major Luther Giddings' Presentation Sword elsewhere in catalog). During the attack Colonel Mitchell and Adjutant Armstrong were both wounded severely and Lieutenant Matthew killed. Shortly afterwards brigade commander General Thomas L. Hamer reported to Ohio Governor Bartley, writing in part, "I wish you could have been present and seen your First Regiment in the battle of Monterey. I am sure you would have been proud of them. They walked into the most galling and murderous cross-fire of the enemy with coolness of old regular soldiers - not a man nor an officer flinching. They formed and fired upon the enemy with steadiness and obeyed every order promptly. They received great credit from every officer of the Army who saw them." Mitchell recovered sufficiently to return to Monterey in April 1847 as Military Governor. He remained in that position until the regiment mustered out on June 23, 1847 having suffered 24 men killed, mostly at Monterey. Mitchell returned to Cincinnati and resumed his law career until 1849 when he was appointed US. Marshall of the Minnesota Territory, a position held through 1851. Just 48 years old, Alexander M. Mitchell died on February 28, 1861 at St. Joseph's Missouri. The location of his grave is unknown.
A rather sad reference to Mitchell's presentation sword (also serving as early provenance) is found in a January 9, 1878 entry in the Journal of the House of Representatives, State of Ohio in which Mitchell's widow then living in Chicago implored the State to reinstitute the expired disability pension that her husband had received up until his death. Wrote Mrs. Mary A. Mitchell, "I am the widow...He died leaving me without means, with a son - Alexander M. Mitchell (Jr.) three years of age, and a magnificent sword, which was presented to Colonel Mitchell on his return from the Mexican War, by the citizens of Cincinnati, at a cost to them of $800 or more, a testimonial of their appreciation of his valiant services rendered his country, in the victory gained at the battle of Monterey, in which he was wounded. For the benefit of my son, who is a minor, at last I have been compelled to imperil this precious, last family relic of Colonel Mitchell for the sum of $150, in this city (Chicago). It appears that Mary's petition was declined by members of the State Legislature.Very fine. Blade retains most of its polish and frosty etching with all panels and scene intact, showing only the most minor thinning and wear at the ricasso. Some very small scattered flecks of surface oxidation are present here and there as well. Hilt fine, with some thinning and minor loss of the gilding here and there. Scabbard fine with some scattered light handling marks, but with engraving remaining clear and crisp.Condition
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