This sword pattern is pictured on page 33 of "A Photographic Supplement of Confederate Swords with Addendum" by Albaugh and noted as a "Confederate copy of the regulation U.S. field/staff officer's sword with "CS" in the counterguard . . . Note 'high' pommel cap and loosely twisted wire. Also note brass mount on scabbard in that the carrying ring loop is at the base of the mount rather than in the middle. . ." The 30 inch blade is etched with "H.C. LOCKHART." as well as scroll designs and a patriotic shield on the obverse and scrolls, the distinctive large "CSA," and an eleven star flag on the reverse. The hilt has the noted "CS" in the large double branch style counterguard and otherwise detailed floral and scroll designs. The grip is wrapped with leather and wire. The leather scabbard has brass mounts, including the distinctive ring band at the base of the mouthpiece. Only a small number of these swords are known, and they are the rarest of the swords manufactured at College Hill in Nashville, Tennessee. All of the College Hill swords are rare Confederate artifacts given Nashville fell to the Union early in the war. This sword was presented to Harrison Claiborne Lockhart (1828-1878) by 53 of his fellow members of the Tennessee General Assembly on December 5, 1861, after he raised a company for the Confederate service. The presentation and his response are recorded in the Nashville Patriot on December 7, 1861. They "ask you to receive it and wield it with your own arms in defence of our State in whatever field you may be called to meet the enemies of our common country." Lockhart noted that he had received "a very complimentary letter . . . accompanied by a beautiful and elegant sword" from the General Assembly. "I receive this elegant sword at your hands, and pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor, that it shall never be prostituted to base and unworthy purposes; and that, when it is unsheathed, it shall be in the name of liberty and equality, and when it flashes amid the storm of battle the remembrance of the donors shall nerve the arm that wields it." Prior to the war, he had served as a representative of Stewart County in 1859 and 1860 and was chairman on the Committee on Military Affairs. In the fall of 1861, he raised a company and enlisted for one year on November 28, 1861, and was elected captain of Company H of the 50th Tennessee Volunteers. They were organized at Fort Donelson. He was elected major of the 50th Tennessee on December 26 and became lieutenant colonel on January 26, 1862. They fought against Grant at Fort Donelson in February. The Confederate defeat ultimately resulted in the fall of Nashville and thus the end of sword production at College Hill limiting the number of these rare swords that were manufactured. Lockhart was taken prisoner and sent to Camp Chase in Ohio and then Fort Warren in Boston Harbor until he was exchanged for two Union lieutenants in August 1862. When his regiment was reorganized, he was reelected lieutenant colonel but declined the appointment due to a disagreement with a higher ranking officer. He served as assistant adjutant general on General Pillow's staff. He was a captain and then major and was assigned to command of the Camp of Instruction and of Conscripts for the Sate of Alabama at Talladega and promoted again to lieutenant colonel. Companies of under-age and over-age men were formed into Lockhart's Battalion and fought against the Union cavalry under General Rousseau during the Atlanta Campaign in July 1864 and then formed large portions of the 1st Alabama Reserves and 62nd Alabama Infantry. After the war, he was paroled at Talladega in May of 1865 and returned to practicing law. His home near Fort Donelson was burned during the war. His family moved to Waverly in Humphrey's County, Tennessee, by 1872, and he promoted settlement and agricultural interests in the area.

Fine. The blade is dark and has distinct etching, several nicks at the edge of the blade from use, and mild overall wear. The hilt retains a rather high degree of original gilding in the details of the guard and displays a deep aged patina on the balance. The grip shows mild wear. The scabbard has dark aged patina on the fittings and mild wear on the aged leather. Overall, this is a very rare and attractive sword. All identified Confederate swords are valuable historical artifacts, but those from College Hill are especially desirable, especially those in this ultra rare form.