This beautiful Civil War presentation sword and walking stick were owned by Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jacob G. Frick. Both have dated inscriptions. The sword was presented in July of 1862 by the men the 96th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in recognition of Frick's leadership at the Gaines Hill on June 27, 1862, during the Seven Days Battles of the Peninsula Campaign. It has a metal scabbard with brown finished body, gilt brass hardware with floral and scroll patterns, silver oval on the upper band engraved with "E PLURIBUS UNUM" in a banner in the beak of a spread wing bald eagle on a patriotic shield with arrows and olive branches, Columbia with her shield and sword engraved on a silver oval in the lower band leaning on a pillar inscribed "LIBERTY/&/UNION," and Justice with her sword and scales engraved on the silver oval on the drag. The oval inscription panel between the two bands reads: "PRESENTED TO/Lieut Col. J.G. Frick,/96TH REG'T P.V., BY HIS FRIENDS/in the Regiment, for his Gallant/Conduct at Gains/Hill, June 27th and his/Efficiency/AS AN OFFICER.-JULY, 1862." The bright 32 1/2 inch blade is lightly curved and is etched with extensive patriotic and floral etching that includes "E PLURIBUS/UNUM" and "W.H. HORSTMANN/& SONS/PHILADELPHIA" on the right and a large "U.S." on the left. The spine has the etched "IRON PROOF" marking, and the king's head Weyersberg maker's mark is on the right ricasso. The gilt brass hilt has pierced floral designs, "US" on the guard, and a scroll and banner engraved silver grip. A golden sword knot is tied to the grip. The walking stick was presented in 1873 when Frick was working as a deputy collector for the federal government. It has an 18k gold handle with scroll and floral patterns and the inscription "Col. J.G. Frick/Pottsville/May 1, 1873." A massive binder with documents and historical information on Colonel Frick are included, including copies of records from the National Archives. Jacob Gellert Frick (1825-1902) was a third lieutenant in the 3rd Ohio Infantry during the Mexican-American War and later second lieutenant in the 11th U.S. Infantry. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1860 in Chicago and thus involved in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln. He was quick to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops after the Confederates attack on Fort Sumter. In the Civil War, he first served as a lieutenant-colonel and the second in command of the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. On June 27, 1862, the 96th participated in the battle of Gaines' Mill in Virginia. Frick led men from the 96th and 7th Maine who secretly built a 400 yard redoubt within musket range of the enemy. The 5th Maine along with the 27th New York, 16th New York, and 96th Pennsylvania on the crest of the hill during the battle. Frick wrote a report on July 5, 1862, on the Battle of Gaines Mill as the commander of the 5th Maine Infantry. He writes that the 5th was ordered to prevent the enemy from crossing Duane's Bridge and then moved to Woodbury's Bridge after the first bridge was destroyed. After crossing the second bridge, they went up the hill and into the main battle. Colonel Jackson was wounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Heath was killed, and Frick appears to have stepped in as their commander. They lost 9 killed, 49 wounded, and 8 missing. The Confederate's emerged victorious in the battle and thus prevented the Union forces from advancing on Richmond for the time being. On July 29, 1862, Frick resigned from this unit in order to become the colonel and commander of the new 129th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. It is likely the sword was presented at or around the time he officially left the 96th. The 129th went on to see fierce fighting during the Battle of Fredericksburg, one of the battles at which Frick's actions led to him receiving Medal of Honor. Details of Frick's actions at Fredericksburg are recorded in "Deeds of Valor: How America's Heroes Won the Medal of Honor" by Beyer and Keydel. During the Battle of Fredericksburg, Colonel Frick's men were sent to charge Marye's Heights and suffered heavy losses. "Colonel Frick's loss was 143 out of the 500 men of the One hundred and twenty-ninth taken into action. He himself was hit by pieces of shell in the thigh and right ear. A shell from the batteries concentrating their fire on the charging column, struck a horse at his side and literally covered him with the flesh and blood of the slaughtered animal. At the critical point of this charge the color-bearer was shot down, but the colonel quickly seized the colors and took the lead. Shortly afterward the flagstaff was shot off in his hands, close to his head, and the flag fell drooping over his shoulders. But he steadily advanced, leading his men through the terrible fire." The book also lists details of Frick's bravery in action at Chancellorsville, the second battle mentioned in his Medal of Honor citation. "At the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, Colonel Frick, with the One hundred and twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, on the right of the brigade, occupied a conspicuous position, and was brought into action in the midst of the heaviest fighting. French's Division was on his left, but the nature of the ground was such that the colonel felt justified in occupying a more advanced position. Having held this position against superior numbers, until many of his men had fallen, and long after the troops that covered his right and left had retired, he discovered that the enemy had already passed his right flank and was gaining his rear. Then he retired in good order to the rear of the batteries, which had gotten into position, while his steady musketry held the enemy in check. He had retired none too soon, for the enemy fell upon him, captured his colors and a few prisoners, including his lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Frick quickly rallied his men, and, in a hand-to-hand fight, recaptured comrades and colors and brought to his rear as prisoners the very Confederates who had made the dash." His Medal of Honor citation from June 7, 1892, reads: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel (Infantry) Jacob G. Frick, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 13 December 1862, while serving with 129th Pennsylvania Infantry, in action at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Colonel Frick seized the colors and led the command through a terrible fire of cannon and musketry. In a hand-to-hand fight at Chancellorsville, Virginia, on 3 May 1863, he recaptured the colors of his regiment." His regiment had 83 men killed in service, including three officers and thirty-seven enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in combat. They mustered out on May 18, 1863. He also served as the colonel of the 27th Pennsylvania Militia to counter Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, including in the Gettysburg campaign. Under his orders, the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge across the Susquehanna River was burned on June 28, 1863. They had originally hoped to defend the bridge, but elected to burn it rather than allow the Confederates to use it to advance towards Lancaster and Philadelphia. Instead, they turned towards Gettysburg. He mustered out on July 31, but he was not done serving his country. In February 1864, he lost his wife from complications during childbirth and then his infant son five months later. While still dealing with this tremendous tragedy, he was called upon to advise on the mining operations that led to the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg in July 1864 and then lost another young son, James, late that year. After the war, he returned to Pennsylvania where he raised his remaining son William, worked in the screen business, served again as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868, and was a deputy collector for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. He was working in the later position when he received the walking stick. He remarried and had more children in Pennsylvania where he died in 1902. In his obituary in the local Pottsville Republican, Governor Curtin is recorded as having written, "Col. Frick is every inch a soldier, a rigid disciplinarian, an efficient and worthy officer. His conduct on the battlefields at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville was characterized by coolness and courage that plainly showed his capacity to manage a large crowd."

Exceptionally fine. The excellent, untouched blade remains bright and has distinct etching. It only exhibits slight age and storage related wear at the edges. The grip has crisp engraving and mild aged patina. The hilt retains most of the bright original gold gilding and has mild handling and storage wear. The scabbard is also very fine with minor age and storage related wear throughout including aged patina on the silver oval panels and retains 95% plus of the brown finish on the body and the vast majority of the original gilt finish which primarily only exhibits wear on the inscription oval and reverse of the lower band. The walking stick is also very fine and has minor wear mainly on the tip along with a few minor scratches and marks on the gold shaft. This is an exceptional pair of beautiful presentation pieces owned by Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Jacob G. Frick Sr., a dedicated American patriot who shed blood to preserve the Union.