Regulation Regulation U.S. Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's sword carried by Colonel Abraham Hare, Commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Tennessee, at the Battle of Shiloh. Abraham Hare was a resident of Muscatine, Iowa, and a pre-war militia officer who was commissioned as Colonel by Iowa Governor Kirkwood and authorized to raise the 11th Iowa Infantry. The 11th Iowa Organized at Davenport and mustered into service in the fall of 1861. After initial service in Missouri, the 11th Iowa was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Tennessee. Colonel Hare was the 1st Brigade Commander. On April 6, 1862, the Army of Tennessee, encamped at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, near Shiloh Church, was attacked by the Confederate Army of the Mississippi commmanded by General Albert S. Johnson. The Union Army was surprised by the dawn attack. Colonel Hare's 1st Brigade, as part of General John McClernand's Division, played a key part in the desperate fightning near the "Peach Orchard" and "Bloody Pond" during the morning and afternoon of April 6th. During the action, Colonel Hare had three horses killed under him and was severly wounded by a bullet that hit the grip of his sword, removed a finger, passed through his arm and lodged in his shoulder; his hip was crushed when his third horse was killed and fell on him. During the bloody fighting on the first day of Shiloh, Colonel Hare's 1st Brigade lost 104 officers and men killed in action and 467 wounded. Confederate General Albert Johnson was mortally wounded during the fighting with McClernand's Division. The reverse side of the sword grip shows the damage from the bullet that removed Hare's third finger and lodged in his shoulder. The sword is regulation pattern Model 1850 Staff & Officer's Sword with 32-inch blade decorated with acid-etched, dry needle patriotic engraving that features an eagle and shield with floral sprays and strands of colors on the obverse and "U.S.", military trophies and floral sprays on the reverse. The trademark "W.H./ HORSTMANN/ &/ SON/ PHILADELPHIA" is etched on the ricasso and "IRON PROOF" is etched on the back of the blade. The regulation pattern gold plated brass guard has "US" entwined in the outer branch. The grip is convered with rayskin and wrapped with fine twisted wire. The sword has a bright steel scabbard with gold-plated brass throat, suspension bands and drag. Included with the sword are: 1) Officer's hat insignia that consists of a bullion wire eagle and shield on a dark blue velvet oval, 2) 11th Iowa Infantry Officer's hat insignia that consists of a bullion wire hunting horn with "11" in the center of the hirn on a dark blue velvet oval, 3) a 20" by 17" framed photo of an elderly Colonel Hare in a Uniform, seated holding a sword, 4) a large copy of a Civil War period photograph showing Colonel Hare in a full dress uniform wearinga forage cap, 5) a type-written account of a turn-of-the century visit to the Shiloh battlefield which states that Colonel Hare's sword was recovered on the battlefield after the Federal counterattack the next day and returned to him after the battle, 6) a copy of the July 28, 1862 letter recommeding Colonel Hare's discharge due to wounds received at Shiloh, 7) 1839 Military School medal and 8) bronze Civil War commemorative medal.

Good. The sword and scabbard have been cleaned and polished. The blade is in very good condition with no pitting and period sharpened edges. The engraving is light and none of the frosted finish is present. The leather washer is missing. The brass guard is bent slightly upward which was a period field modification. The rayskin grip clearly shows the impact of the bullet that wounded Colonel Hare and cut through almost half of the grip. The scabbard has traces of gold plating in protected areas; wear is limited to several shallow dents in the drag. The hat badges show wear but are in fair condition. This is a well documented combat sword that was carried in some of the fiercest fighting of the Civil War.