Original Item: Only One Available. This is an outstanding example of an Ames Model 1832 Artillery Short sword which saw use by the Mortar Crew aboard the USS Pawnee during the American Civil War. The crew of the Pawnee captured 2 Confederate Siege Mortars on December 25th, 1863, one of which was taken and used on the Pawnee. This short sword is likely a souvenir from that action. Additionally, the moderate surface pitting on the blade is evident from exposure to saltwater, clearly a sign of naval issue. This design of foot artillery sword has a straight, heavy double-edged steel blade. There are two side-by-side fullers, starting just below the hilt. Then, after a space of 11/16", there is a single center fuller that extends toward the blade's spear shaped point. The overall blade length is approximately 19 1/4''.

Due to the oxidation of the blade, we can no longer make out the date/inspector markings, but the opposite side of the ricasso is faintly stamped with an eagle over:

N. P. AMES
SPRINGFIELD

The top of the crossguard also bears an HKC and ORD cartouche on the crossguard, H.K.C. being the initials of Major Henry Knox Craig. Craig inspected Ames 1832 pattern short swords and Ames 1833 pattern dragoon sabers, all before his transfer to Allegheny Arsenal in September 1838. This would date the sword between 1833 and 1838. There is also a J.M. stamp, for Justin Murphy, a civilian ordnance sub-inspector who evaluated military weapons for the United States government during the 1830s and 1840s. The sides of the cross guard are stamped:

MORTAR CREW
USS PAWNEE

The grips have been molded in a scalloped eagle feather design. Three transverse iron rivets secure it to the tang of the blade. The pommel is decorated on each side with a heavily incised American eagle, with shield, holding arrows in his left talon and an olive branch in his right talon. The eagle's head faces towards its right. The straight cross quillons terminate in disk shaped finials, which are in great shape. Overall the grip has a lovely aged patina, but does look to have been cleaned. 

The blade on this example looks to have seen long service and some past oxidation, evident of use in a saltwater environment, but it’s overall in great worn condition.The blade is still tight to the hilt with no wobble, and is an excellent overall example of this incredibly scarce sword, with a fantastic story!

The black leather scabbard is in very good condition, with a great look and dark gold color on the brass fittings. The leather still retains much of the black finish, though it is cracked in areas and the leather has become hard, pulling out some of the original seam stitching. There is some minor denting on the brass drag, but nothing too extensive.

There were two Confederate Siege mortars captured on December 25th, 1863. Both were used in an attempted ambush of USS Marblehead on the Stono River on that day.  Marblehead responded with accurate fire from her 11-Inch Dahlgrens, and USS Pawnee quickly moved into a flanking position and opened fire with her 100-Pounder Parrott and battery of 9-Inch Dahlgrens.  The Mortar Schooner, USS C.P. Williams, also slipped her cable and entered the fray under sail adding twenty 13-Inch Mortar rounds to the bombardment of the Confederate batteries.  

The two 8-Inch Siege Howitzers were abandoned by the retreating Confederates.  US Navy sailors went ashore and disabled the carriages.  On December 28th, 1863, they returned and were able to take the two howitzers.  One of them was taken aboard USS Pawnee.  It appears in wartime photos taken aboard the ship. The 8-Inch Siege Howitzer captured following the December 25th, 1863 engagement at Legareville, South Carolina may be seen on the deck of USS Pawnee. This howitzer is currently displayed at the Washington Navy Yard.

This is why we believe the artillery sword to be a souvenir of that action, when crew aboard the USS Pawnee captured a Confederate siege mortar and used it aboard their own ship.

The U.S. Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword was the first major sword pattern manufactured under federal contract by the Ames firm. Production began in the early 1830s, and the pattern remained in government inventories for many years. Its approximately 19-inch double-edged blade, heavy brass hilt, and compact overall length made it immediately distinctive among American military edged weapons.

The design was derived closely from the French Model 1816 foot artillery short sword, itself inspired by the Roman gladius. American versions are readily distinguished by their cast eagle-decorated brass hilts and federal maker and inspection markings. The French pattern and the American copy both earned reputations as heavy multipurpose sidearms, and period users are often credited with employing them for practical camp and field tasks as well as their intended military role.

The Model 1832 was associated particularly with foot artillery, although examples were also issued during the 1830s to certain infantry sergeants, musicians, and other enlisted personnel. The pattern remained in U.S. service through the decades encompassing the Second Seminole War, Mexican-American War, and American Civil War.

This Ames Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword is especially noteworthy for the combination of early federal inspection markings and the apparent identification with USS Pawnee. The H.K.C., ORD, and J.M. stamps establish its relationship to federal ordnance inspection during the 1830s and Naval issue during the Civil War. The documented capture of two Confederate siege howitzers following the December 25, 1863, Battle of Legareville, and the subsequent presence of one aboard Pawnee give great context to the use of this sword. With its original-style scabbard, identifiable Ames manufacture, and outstanding naval inscriptions, the sword represents an intriguing intersection of antebellum American military equipment and Civil War naval history.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 19 1/4"
Blade Style: Double Edged "Gladius" style
Overall length: 25 1/4“
Crossguard: 4 1/4”
Scabbard Length: 20"