Sword Presented to Judson Kilpatrick
- Description (Brief)
- Presented to Brevet Major General Judson Kilpatrick by the Officers of the 3rd Cavalry Division of Mississippi
- Description
- West Point graduate Hugh Judson Kilpatrick was a controversial cavalry leader during the Civil War. He was notorious for reckless tactics (he was known as “Kill-Cavalry”) and for womanizing.
- The blade of this sword is long, straight, and double edged. The fuller is long and flat, and extends almost to the tip of the blade. Both sides are decorated in floral sprays in silver and gold chasing. On the obverse is a list of battles Kilpatrick participated in during the Civil War. The reverse of the blade features a "US" monogram, scroll designs, and military trophies. The grip of the sword is cylindrical and bears a banner engraved with the Latin motto, ""TUEBOR" / "I'll Secure Him"". The pommel is a cast of an eagle with one claw on a ball. The knuckle guard is a gold metal chain and connects to a horse's head about half way between the pommel and counterguard. The guard terminates in a small scroll design quillon. The counterguard features a cast of Kilpatrick riding a horse, surrounded by scroll designs and floral sprays.
- The scabbard bears three gold mounts. The first features a diamond encrusted "K" surrounded by two angels with horns, a floral wreath, and floral sprays, and a curtain. The second mount features a US shield with diamond encrusted stars wrapped in a belt and surrounded by laurel leaves. The drag bears floral sprays. An inscription “PRESENTED / TO / Brevet Maj. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick. / BY THE / Officers of the 3d. Cavalry Division. / MILITARY DIVISION, MISSISSIPPI” is engraved between the first two mounts. There are three carrying rings on this scabbard, one on each side of the top mount and one on the right side of the middle mount.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- sword
- date made
- ca 1865
- recipient
- Kilpatrick, Judson
- maker
- Collins & Co.
- Schuyler, Hartley & Graham
- Physical Description
- steel (blade material)
- metal, gilt (scabbard material)
- brass (hilt material)
- Measurements
- blade: 32 7/8 in x 1 in; 83.5025 cm x 2.54 cm
- scabbard: 34 1/2 in x 4 1/4 in; 87.63 cm x 10.795 cm
- overall: 40 3/8 in x 6 1/4 in; 102.5525 cm x 15.875 cm
- place made for blade
- United States: Connecticut, Hartford
- place made
- United States: New York, New York
- presented by/ in
- United States: Mississippi
- ID Number
- AF*10572
- catalog number
- 10572
- accession number
- 46071
- subject
- Military
- Edged Weapons
- Civil War Presentation Swords
- Civil War
- event
- Civil War
- See more items in
- Armed Forces History: Armed Forces History, Military
- Civil War Presentation Swords
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Additional Media
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