The sword has a 32 1/4 inch blade with classical floral and martial etching with frosted backgrounds and "Ames Mfg Co./Chicopee/Mass." etched above the right ricasso. The gilt brass hilt has standard "US" and floral designs and a black leather and twisted wire wrapped grip. The gilt scabbard is engraved with scrollwork and patriotic martial designs, the rear below the throat is marked "AMES MFG CO/CHICOPEE/MASS," and the section between the suspension bands bears the historic inscription: "Presented to/Conl N.A. Miles/61st N.Y. Vols./by his friends of Westminster Mass/Sept. 1863." It is surrounded by "Seven Pines/Mavern Hill" to the left, "Fredericksburg," to the bottom left, "Fair Oaks/Antietam" to the right, and "Chancellorsville" on the lower right. As discussed in the introduction to this section, Miles quickly rose through the ranks during the American Civil War and was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 61st New York effective May 31, 1862. He took command of the regiment after Colonel Barlow was wounded by artillery fire at Antietam. He was promoted to colonel of the regiment on September 30, 1862, and was then wounded in the assault on Marye's Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg that December and was then wounded severely in the Battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863 while leading the regiment and was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down and expected to die. He received the Medal of Honor years later for his actions in the battle. He was taken home to Massachusetts and underwent surgery to remove the bullet and bone fragments and began his recovery and was eager to return to command despite not being able to walk unassisted. While recovering, he was an acting brigadier general at Huntington, Pennsylvania, but was unable to participate in the combat of the Gettysburg campaign due to his injuries. He was recommended for promotion to brigadier general. Records indicate he returned to the field as commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, II Corps of the Army of the Potomac on July 31, 1863, with the rank of colonel. Among the units under his command remained the 61st New York led by Lieutenant Colonel K. Oscar Broady. His brigade then participated in the campaign in Virginia that fall and winter. He was finally promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in May 1864 and then major general of volunteers in October 1865. At the end of the war, he had the honor of serving as commandant of Fort Monroe at Hampton, Virginia, where the captured Confederate president was held prisoner and was accused of mistreating Davis, who Miles likely viewed as a traitor. Miles had Davis's irons riveted on his ankles and did not allow him visitors or books aside from the Bible. The "friends of Westminster" that presented the sword would have been residents of his hometown back in Massachusetts. He was born on his family's farm in Westminster in 1839. His father, Daniel Miles (1799-1875), was the son of Revolutionary War hero Joab Miles (1741-1832) of nearby Petersham, Massachusetts. Colonel Miles's elder brother Daniel Curtis Miles (1827-1912) had been the one who brought Miles home when he was wounded and essentially left for dead. In a sad twist of fate, Daniel was later found dead by Nelson in 1912 when he died of heart failure while on a walk. A description of the sword included in the file indicated that this sword was "documented" as presented to Miles by his father in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after funds were raised in Westminster to buy the sword and that it was then "documented" as damaged at the Siege of Petersburg. In the latter battle, Miles did indicate that he was lightly wounded when a bullet struck his sword's guard and split in two with one piece striking him in the neck and the other "melted into the handle." This is recorded in "A Hero to His Fighting Men: Nelson A. Miles, 1839-1925" by Peter R. DeMontravel. The included description suggests that Miles then likely had the sword professionally repaired by Ames after the war. The source of the documentation concerning the presentation was not included and is unknown at this time. A copy of "Serving the Republic" by Miles and "Nelson A. Miles: A Documentary Biography of His Military Career, 1861-1903" edited by Brian C. Pohanka are included. Provenance: The Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Excellent overall. The sword retains nearly all of its original bright gilt finish and has a distinct inscription, crisp engraving and etching, and generally only very minor age and storage related wear mostly in the form of patches of dark patina at the drag and suspension bands of the scabbard and some light wear on the leather grip. This is certainly one of best preserved officer's swords we have seen in recent years, and its presentation to Nelson A. Miles while he was a colonel following his near fatal wound at the Battle of Chancellorsville for which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor certainly makes this sword a truly special piece.