HIGH GRADE PRESENTATION SWORD TO 1st LIEUTENANT A.W. LEONARD OF THE FAMOUS 54th MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY

HIGH GRADE PRESENTATION SWORD TO 1st LIEUTENANT A.W. LEONARD OF THE FAMOUS 54th MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY

02-22946

An exemplary presentation grade sword to a member of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry that is known today as the “GLORY” Regiment due to the history of the regiment being immortalized in the 1989 movie “GLORY”. This sword was presented to 1st Lieutenant Andrew Watson Leonard, who joined the regiment on August 18th of 1863. Leonard was engaged with his company at the Battle of Olustee, Florida. Near the end of the battle, his company was retiring from the field when he discovered Adjutant Manning of the 35th U.S.C.T., seriously wounded on the field. Lieutenant Leonard grabbed Manning, pulled him onto his back, and carried the Adjutant to safety.

When the regiment left Florida for Morris Island, South Carolina, he assumed command of Company K and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 31 January, 1864. Later, at Morris Island, he assumed command of Companies A and I, in addition to Company K. Lieutenant Leonard was in command during attack on James Island, and also during the Battle of Honey Hill. He was transferred in mid-May of 1865 to the 103rd U.S.C.T. and promoted to Captain. The sword itself measures 40” overall with a 32” blade. The etched blade has a single, wide fuller with a secondary fuller near the spine. Gold-highlighted etching includes a plethora of foliate designs with a large “U.S.”, American eagle, and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” ribbon. There are sprays of arms throughout the blade with a Federal shield bearing the letters “U.S.” Gilded brass hilt with a superbly rendered American eagle on the underside of the guard attacking a serpent, flanked by a “U” and “S”. The edge of the underside of the guard is engraved “1st Lieut A W Leonard Co. K. 54 Regt. Mass. Vols”.

The quillon is in the form of a pearl within a shell emanating from a cornucopia. The top side of the guard is graced by another eagle attacking a serpent with the reverse image of the pierced “U” and “S” appearing on the underside of the guard. This symbolism overtly speaks to the Union forces doing battle against the Confederacy. The knuckle bow shows numerous flourishes where it enters the oak leaf and acorn embellished pommel. The silver-plated brass grip has vertical ribs showing alternating plain and leaf-embellished sections. Attached to the knuckle bow is a very fine and heavy silver bullion knot with purple trim. The gilded brass-mounted, silvered scabbard has heavily embellished mounts featuring a stack of military accoutrements on the top mount, a medieval bust on the center mount, and oak leaves with acorns at the tip, leading to a pierced drag. There is a 2 1/2″ silver oval plaque between the mounts that is engraved “Presented to First. Lieut. A. W. Leonard by the enlisted men of Co.. 54th Regt. Mass. Vols. as a token of their regard Nov. 1864”. Of course, all of the enlisted men of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment were black. It is absolutely emotionally staggering that poorly paid black soldiers would pool what little money they had to purchase a high-end presentation sword for one of their officers. Lieutenant Leonard must have been an exemplary officer to have received such a token of esteem and respect from the enlisted soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts. To our knowledge, there is no other known presentation sword from enlisted black soldiers to a white officer.

UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a large folder containing copies of photographs of Lieutenant Leonard, along with details of his military service. There are also numerous pages referring to the history of the 54th Massachusetts and the soldiers who fought together for the glorious cause.