Original Item: One-Of-A-Kind. This is a lovely Union Staff and Field Officer's Sword with presentation scabbard offered in beautiful unaltered condition. The sword and scabbard was made by the famed Tiffany & Co of New York, well known for their incredible craftsmanship.

Named to First Lieutenant Lewis Edward Wiebe Jr. of Company G, 5th Regiment Heavy Artillery of the New York Volunteers. Lt Wiebe was born in Germany in the year of 1840. After arriving in the United States, learning the English language and establishing himself in New York, loving his new country, he felt compelled to serve in the military. On August 11, 1862, out of Brooklyn, New York Wiebe enlisted in the Union Army as a Private with Company G of the 5th Heavy Artillery. On October 15, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, still with the same company. On May 9, 1863 he was promoted again, this time to the rank of Sergeant Major and was transferred from G Company to S Company. On May 25th of the same year, he was demoted back to the rank of sergeant for reasons unknown. In August 1864 he was promoted to First Sergeant. On January 3, 1865, he received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and was transferred back to Company G, which was now under his command. He would continue to serve with his Company for the rest of the war, receiving another promotion, 1st Lieutenant. On May 17, 1865, First Lieutenant Wiebe resigned his commission with the Army and was discharged with full honors and the respect of the men in which he commanded.

This sword is a very fine example of the model 1840 Staff and Field Officer's Sword and still bears the majority of the original heavy gilding, especially the heavily worked presentation scabbard mountings. The blade is beautifully engraved and only shows slight age but absolutely no use. The grip appears to be silvered wire wrapped sharkskin of superb quality which is now unfortunately a little loose. The blade displays beautiful patriotic etchings still highly visible with “US” on one side of the blade and the Federal Eagle with an E. Pluribus Unum banner in its beak. The brass hilt still retains almost of its original finish and has beautiful floral motifs displayed throughout.

The blade is marked with the following information:

TIFFANY CO
NEW YORK

Opposite Side:

WARRANTED TO CUT
WROUGHT IRON

Below this it is marked on the ricasso with:

P. D. L.

"P.D.L" inside an oval of dots, is the maker marking for P. D. Lüneschloss, Fabrik blanker Waffen, located in the legendary blade-making city of Solingen. The company was founded in 1810 by Peter Daniel Lüneschloss, and existed well into the 20th century. During the 19th Century, they were one of Europe's leading Sword Makers of the period, and had a booming export business. Many blades were imported by Tiffany & Company of New York City and retailed bearing the "TIFFANY" signature.

The nickel plated steel scabbard with brass adornments is in beautiful condition with only minor denting. The plating is retained almost completely on both the scabbard and brass pieces. The sword hanger rings are made of “twisted” pieces of brass and are attached to beautiful laurels with soldier cameos. Just below the throat of the scabbard is a beautiful inscription which is still highly visible:

Presented to
Lieut. L. E. Wiebe Jr.
By the members of Co. G.
5th Regt. H. Arty. N. Y. Vol.

This is an absolutely beautiful sword and a wonderful example of just how much soldiers respected their leaders during the Civil War. Sword and Scabbard both come ready to be displayed and researched further!

Dimensions:
Blade Length: 30”
Crossguard Width: 4”
Total Length: 35 ½”
Scabbard Length: 32”

THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM NEW YORK IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, 3RD ED. FREDERICK PHISTERER. ALBANY: J. B. LYON COMPANY, 1912.

“Col. Samuel Graham, being so authorized, proceeded to recruit a regiment of heavy artillery — the 2d Regiment Jackson Artillery; Col. Edward Murray received authority from the State in November, 1861, to recruit the Jackson Heavy Artillery. These two organizations were consolidated March 6, 1862, Colonel Graham's men forming Companies A, B, C and D, and Colonel Murray's E, F, G and H of the new regiment, the two colonels being appointed Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel, respectively. The 70th Militia furnished a number of men to the regiment. The companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years, in New York harbor, in April, 1862. December 31, 1862, the 6th Battalion of Artillery—3d Battalion of Black River Artillery — was transferred to the regiment, forming its Companies I, K, L and M, and thereby completing the regimental organization. These companies had been mustered in the United States service for three years; I and K September 11; and L and M September 12, 1862, at Sackett's Harbor. At the expiration of the term of service of the original eight companies, the men entitled thereto were discharged, and the companies retained in service.

The companies were recruited principally: A and B at Brooklyn and New York city; C at New York city, Brooklyn, Monterey, Big Flats, Valhalla, Catskill, Horseheads, Elmira, Armonk and Quarrytonville; D at Brooklyn, New York city and Rondout; E at New York city, Afton and in Ohio; F at New York city, Liberty, Turin, Fort Edward, and in the counties of Dutchess and Sullivan; G in New York city and in New Jersey; H at New York city, Ancram, Poughkeepsie, Fremont Centre and Liberty, and in New Jersey; I at New Bremen, Martinsburg, Lowville and Greig; K at Turin, Leyden, Highmarket, Greig and Theresa; L at Lowville, Watson, Denmark, Martinsburg, Diana and Montague; and M at Denmark, Harrisburg, Pinckney, Montague, Champion, Croghan and Wilna.

The eight companies, then organized, served in New York harbor at Forts Hamilton, Lafayette, Wood, Gibson, Richmond and Schuyler, from March 11, 1862; at Baltimore, Md., and other points of the Middle Department, from May 28, 1862. Companies A and F served at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., from June 19, 1862, where they were surrendered in September, 1862; they rejoined the regiment after being paroled, at Baltimore, Md. The 3d Battalion served in the defenses of Washington north, and later south, of the Potomac, 22d Corps, from December, 1862, and at Harper's Ferry, W. Va., from November 24, 1863; the 1st and 2d Battalions were also ordered to Harper's Ferry, 8th Corps, April 19, 1864. The 1st Battalion, Companies A, B, C and D, served with the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of West Virginia, 8th Corps, in the field from May, 1864; it was relieved by the 2d Battalion, July 29, 1864, and returned to Harper's Ferry. The 2d Battalion, Companies E, F, G and H, served in the field in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of West Virginia, until October 28, 1864, when it returned to Harper's Ferry. The regiment served as infantry and heavy artillery.

June 24 and 25, 1863, Companies I, K, L and M were mustered out at Harper's Ferry, but at once reorganized of men transferred from Companies A, B, C and D, and July 19, 1865, the regiment, commanded by Colonel Graham, was honorably discharged and mustered out at Harper's Ferry, W. Va.

During its service, the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 66 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 32 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 293 enlisted men; total, 1 officer, 391 enlisted men; aggregate, 392; of whom 76 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.”