Confederate Sword Scabbard from Antietam

Confederate Sword Scabbard from Antietam. Click photo and "Detailed Description".

This is another nice item being offered out of my private collection. It is a section of an iron sword scabbard measuring 16" x 2", and being iron it was probably Confederate used. The upper band for the carrying ring still remains. There are some pronounced dents in the scabbard but it is hard to tell if they were battle related. This unique piece was recovered from the Antietam Battlefield on private property.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland in the late summer of 1862 and was intercepted by Union General George B. McClellan. Their armies met in the Battle of Antietam (or Battle of Sharpsburg) on September 17, 1862, this would become the single bloodiest day of the American Civil War and all of American military history, seeing nearly 23,000 casualties. The inconclusive but strategic Union victory partially politically enabled Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

This scabbard is just as it came out of the ground. It is on the heavy side so there is probably hardened dirt inside, or possibly even a piece of the sword blade...but that is just speculating. As I said, this unique piece has been in my collection for many years and has always been one of my favorites.