Bidspirit auction | Very Fine M-1850 US Non-Regulation

Very Fine M-1850 US Non-Regulation Officers Presentation Sword with Civil War era Attribution ''A Te - Very Fine M-1850 US Non-Regulation Officers Presentation Sword with Civil War era Attribution ''A Testimony to Capt. Thomas C. Spackman Co. E. 198 th. Regt. P.V.'' of Superb German Manufacture with Mirrored Blade Adorned with Gold Inlaid Patriotic Motives, Maker Marked & Retailed by ''W.H. Horstmann & Sons Philadelphia''. Gold Gilt Furniture with a Fine Silver George Washington Portrait to the Scabbard. Thomas C. Spackman name comes up on the top of the list of the 198th Pennsylvania Volunteers Co.E with some details of his service until wounded in VA in 1865. A Beautiful and possibly Unique Example with the history on its Owner which surely deserves a further research. ~~~ 198th RegimentPennsylvania VolunteersThis regiment was recruited in the city of Philadelphia, under the direction and aid of the Union League Association, during the summer of 1864. Recruiting was commenced soon after the muster out of service of the Reserve Corps, and Horatio G. Sickel, who had commanded the Third Reserve Regiment, was selected in conjunction with James H. Orne, Esq., Chairman of the Executive Committee of the association, to superintend the work of filling the ranks and organizing the command. In five weeks it was completed, and on the 9th of September, a regimental organization was effected, with the following field officers:Horatio G. Sickel, ColonelJohn B. Murray, Lieutenant ColonelEdwin A. Glenn, MajorEarly on the morning of the 19th, the regiment moved from camp, and pausing at the Headquarters of the Union League to receive the State colors, thence proceeded to join the army of the Potomac in front of Petersburg. Upon its arrival it was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, of the Fifth Corps, and joined it at a point on the Weldon Railroad, which had just been captured from the enemy. Soon after its arrival, Colonel Sickel was placed in command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel Murray succeeded to the command of the regiment. The battle of Peeble's Farm opened on the 30th, and here the regiment had its first baptism of fire. It had scarcely got into position, when incessant volleys of musketry and artillery were opened upon it from a wood in front, where the enemy was posted. Advancing at once to the attack, the regiment opened fire, and though little accustomed to the terrible ordeal to which it was subjected, finally succeeded by hard fighting, in driving the enemy from the first line of works, inflicting severe loss upon him, two of his field officers being included among the prisoners.* Thursday, May 03, 2001 12:16:52Breast-works were immediately thrown up, and here the regiment remained heavily engaged until the 2d of October, when it moved up near the enemy's works, where, for five hours, it held its ground under a severe fire. It was then withdrawn a short distance, and again threw up works, and on the following day went into camp half a mile to the rear. The regiment lost in this engagement one killed and five wounded. On the 27th, it moved with the corps for a demonstration upon the South Side Railroad, in which it was joined by the Second and Ninth Corps. With four days' rations and forty rounds of ammunition to the man, it moved at daylight, and after five hours toilsome marching, through dense timber, arrived in front of the enemy's formidable works, where it was exposed to a severe artillery fire. At sunset a strong picket line was thrown out, which was engaged nearly the entire night. Until noon of the following day, the pickets were kept busy, when the entire regiment was withdrawn two miles to the rear, where it was posted in support of batteries, but soon after returned to its encampment on the Squirrel Level Road. Here comfortable quarters were erected, in which the National Thanksgiving on the 27th of November was spent, in the enjoyment of a profusion of dainties sent by kind friends of members of the command at Philadelphia. On the 6th of December it marched with the corps for the destruction of the Weldon Railroad. Until the evening of the 9th, the work of destruction was vigorously pushed, the ties being burned and the rails twisted for a considerable distance beyond Bellefield. Upon the return march there was much suffering, the weather being intensely cold, and the troops being exposed to the peltings of a pitiless storm. Winter quarters were again erected, and a neat chapel for religious and other meetings was built, as had been previously done at the encampment on the Squirrel Level Road. Lieutenant Colonel Murray was relieved on account of physical disability on the27th of December, and the command devolved on Major Glenn.On the 5th of February, 1865, the Fifth Corps, in light marching order, moved for an assault upon the enemy's works, and came upon them near Hatcher's Run. At three in the afternoon, the advance of the column encountered,