This extremely high quality officer's presentation sword was manufactured by Solingen cutler W. Clauberg. Many of their swords were sold through Schuyler, Hartley & Graham of New York City during the Civil War. The sword features a silver plated brass grip with a highly detailed image of Columbia (very similar in design to the Statue of Freedom) in raised relief on the obverse below thirteen stars and floral patterns on the reverse surrounding an escutcheon inscribed "AE." The gilt hilt features a eagle head finial with red stone eyes, "US" flanking a detailed design of an eagle representing the Union killing a snake representing the Confederacy, and a spread wing eagle pommel cap. The lightly curved, 32 inch blade is acid etched and has dry needle engraving and gold wash. The obverse features classical martial trophies and "We never surrender." The reverse of the blade is etched martial trophies, scrollwork, "US" over a spread wing eagle and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" banner, and "W. CLAUBERG/knight/SOLINGEN" on the ricasso. The scabbard has an browned body and gilt brass fittings with floral designs, an angel on the drag, a classical warrior bust on the middle band, and "AE" inscribed on the upper band. The reverse of the upper band has "Presented to Capt. A. Ellis,/by Co. C/5th Iowa Infty/Mar. 1st 1864," and the lower has the battle honors "New Madrid./Iuka./Corinth 3rd & 4th Oct. 1862./Jackson./Champion Hill./Vicksburg./Mission Ridge." The sword is accompanied by a portrait identified as of Captain Albert G. Ellis and his wife Alice E. Nichols in an agricultural themed case, a large framed print of the same portrait, a framed "Society of the Sons of the American Revolution" membership certificate for Albert Ellis, a Grand Army of the Republic "CO. G./5/IOWA/VOL. CAV." "ladder pin" with small gilt sword knot and "A ELLIS" lightly hand marked on the back, a copy of "With Fire and Sword" by Major S.H.M. Byers, a copy of "Centennial History of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 1889-1989," 5th Iowa Infantry Regiment unit histories which provide details of the battles noted on the scabbard, and a full binder of information on Captain Albert Ellis of Company G of the 5th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry and Company C of the 5th Iowa Infantry. As detailed in the binder, the sword and other artifacts were kept by the Ellis family until being sold by descendant Michael S. Gray who had owned them for close to 75 years. He is listed as the last descendant of Captain Ellis and sold the items when he moved from Oregon to California. They were purchased by Glenn Mattox of Antique Gun Shoppe in Post Falls, Idaho, from whom the consignor purchased the set. Captain Albert Gallatin Ellis (1835-1918) was born in Ohio and then moved to Louisa County, Iowa Territory, in 1847 where his family homesteaded. He enlisted as a private in the 5th Iowa Infantry on July 16, 1861. The 5th Iowa saw serious combat in the western theater of the war, fighting in Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He was promoted to 2nd and then 1st lieutenant and finally to captain on March 22, 1863. He was lightly wounded in the side at the Battle of Iuka and became seriously ill during the Siege of Vicksburg from contaminated water and poor nutrition, including scurvy, but continued to serve. In the winter of 1863-1864, he served as a recruiting officer for the regiment. Most of the unit would have been stationed at Huntsville, Alabama, on the date of the sword's inscription (March 1, 1864). The 5th Iowa returned to Iowa on April 7, 1864, and began veteran furlough the next day. When his enlistment was up in July 1864, Ellis and 200 men re-enlisted and were consolidated into Companies I and G and were transferred to the 5th Iowa Cavalry under Ellis's command due to both the 5th Infantry and 5th Cavalry not having sufficient men. By November, he was too ill to continue to serve, so he was forced to resign. He received a disability pension for the rest of his life. Though he never fully recovered from the effects of his illness, in April 1864 while on veteran furlough, he married Alice E. Nichols, and they had five children together. He was elected as Louisa County sheriff three times in 1877-1881 and was also twice elected to serve as county supervisor. He also farmed and raised livestock. Sometime later, the family moved to Lost Springs, Kansas, where he is buried. Captain Ellis's brother Harvey served in Company K of the 8th Iowa Infantry and died from disease in 1862. Provenance: The Ellis Family Collection; Glenn Mattox's Antique Gun Shoppe; The Greg Lampe Collection

Exceptionally fine. The sword has only minor age and storage related wear, mainly some light fading of the original finishes. The blade remains bright and has nearly all of the original gold finish. The hilt retains 70% original gold finish and has some minor edge wear and attractive aged patina. The scabbard has rich original brown, a few minor dings and storage marks, and crisp historical inscriptions. The other artifacts are all fine and have mostly minor age and storage related wear. This is a beautiful sword complete with extensive documentation detailing the life of its recipient: Captain Albert Ellis of the 5th Iowa Infantry and 5th Iowa Cavalry.