Confederate Short Sword from a member of the 1st Alabama Infantry (SOLD)

This is a rare piece being offered, it is an artillery short sword which has been cut down to use as a fighting knife. It is a French M1831 Foot Artillery short sword which would have had a 19 1/8” blade that was cut down to a 11 ¼” blade. The overall length would have been 25 1/8” and now it is 18 1/8”. In period stamping across the guard is “1^ST. ALA”, being the 1^st Alabama Infantry.

The regiment completed its organization at Pensacola, Florida, in March 1861. The men were from the counties of Tallapoosa, Pike, Lowndes, Wilcox, Talladega, Barbour, and Macon. For a year it manned the batteries at Pensacola, then with 1,000 men moved to Missouri where all but a detachment were captured at Island No. 10.

The prisoners were exchanged during September 1862, and it was soon ordered to Port Hudson. Here the unit endured many hardships, and nearly 500 were captured on July 9, 1863. Exchanged and reorganized with 610 effectives, the 1st joined the Army of Tennessee and served in General Quarles' and Shelley's Brigade. It took an active part in the Atlanta and Tennessee Campaigns and ended the war in North Carolina. Its casualties were high at Peach Tree Creek and were again heavy at Franklin and Nashville. Less than 100 surrendered in April 1865.

At the start of the war, some of these short swords were already in American, but many came over for the Confederacy on blockade runners. In the Gettysburg NPS Museum, there are examples of these swords (see pictures). There is also a Mississippi soldier holding a short sword (see pictures).

This sword is tight and in very nice condition. The blade has overall pitting so there is no markings that are visible, this could have been an early pickup. In my private collection of artifacts from Lee’s Headquarters Museum in Gettysburg, I also have one of these short swords (see pictures). The heavy brass hilt has a nice untouched patina. This piece came out of an old Alabama collection. A Certificate of Authenticity will be provided.