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Details
A FINE CASED ELABORATE HISTORIC PRESENTATION OFFICER'S SWORD
Presented to/Col. J.R. Cockerill./by the/3rd Brig. 4th Div/15th Army Corps/53rd and 70th Ohio./97th and 99th Ind./48th Ills/Companies and T. & F./1st Ills Artilery"(sic)
Colonel Joseph R. Cockerill, Commanding the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The fullered straight blade embellished with two gilt etched panels of a panoply of Roman arms, a battle scene of a charge of cavalry against a battery of artillery, US and an American Eagle holding a riband inscribed E Pluribus Unum, scroll decorated spine with IRON PROOF, silver finished grip with high-relief cast scrolls and an female armourial figure with sword, pommel of a close helmet surmounted by a mythical winged dragon, gilt brass hilt, the knuckle-bow of which features a tightly coiled snake, the guard with applied silvered panoply of ancient arms, a folding guard, and a fierce snarling tiger on quillon, the gilt brass scabbard with hand engraved floral and scroll motifs, inscibed between mounts Presented to/Col. J.R. Cockerill./by the/3rd Brig. 4th Div./15th Army Corps and around to the other side 53rd. and 70th Ohio./97th. and 99th Ind./48th Ills/Companies and T. & F./1st Ills Artilery(sic), the ring mounts with high-relief applied silvered figures of a zouave with mustache and goatee and a panoply of American arms consisting of two Model 1861 rifle-muskets, a naval cutlass, bugle, knap-sack, canteen and kepi, together with its original quarter-sawn oak case having decorative ivory straps, lid with brass plaque incribed Col. J.R. Cockerill/70th O.V.V.I.
34 inch blade
Some minor staining and some minor wear to gilt, scabbard with some wear to varnish on back-side, pommel slightly bent, case with losses to ends and lacking much of original interior.
Colonel J.R. Cockerill, commanding the 70th Ohio Volunteers. Organised in West Union, Ohio the unit moved onto Paducah, Tennessee then to Savannah, Tennessee March 6-10, 1862 occupying Pittsburg Landing. Participating in the battle of Shiloh April 6-7, 1862 and the siege of Corinth. Moving to Memphis then advancing into Mississippi and onto Vicksburg, where the 70th participated in the siege of Vicksburg being placed in a line to prevent the advance of Confederates under General Joseph E. Johnston. In November 25-26, 1863 it participated in the battle of Chattanooga, and pursued the fleeing Confederates to Ringgold and marched to the relief of Knoxville. The regiment re-enlisted and in May started on Sherman's Atlanta campaign, participating in all the battles and marched on to the sea. The 70th suffered heavily at Fort McAllister, then fought at Bentonville, marched through Richmond and participated in the Grand Review, and was mustered out August 14, 1865. A bronze plaque by T.A.R. Kitson, commemorating Col. Cockerill, was placed at the Vicksburg Battle site in 1918, while a stone monument commemorating the 70th Ohio Infantry stands nearby.
In his report on the battle of Shiloh, Col. Cockerill writes April 10, 1862 to Col. Buckland, Comdg. Fourth Ohio Brig., Fifth Div., Army of the Tennessee:
"I retired about 400 yards by the right flank, and finding the rebels advancing almost parallel with us, we opened fire, which did good service."
Presented to/Col. J.R. Cockerill./by the/3rd Brig. 4th Div/15th Army Corps/53rd and 70th Ohio./97th and 99th Ind./48th Ills/Companies and T. & F./1st Ills Artilery"(sic)
Colonel Joseph R. Cockerill, Commanding the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
The fullered straight blade embellished with two gilt etched panels of a panoply of Roman arms, a battle scene of a charge of cavalry against a battery of artillery, US and an American Eagle holding a riband inscribed E Pluribus Unum, scroll decorated spine with IRON PROOF, silver finished grip with high-relief cast scrolls and an female armourial figure with sword, pommel of a close helmet surmounted by a mythical winged dragon, gilt brass hilt, the knuckle-bow of which features a tightly coiled snake, the guard with applied silvered panoply of ancient arms, a folding guard, and a fierce snarling tiger on quillon, the gilt brass scabbard with hand engraved floral and scroll motifs, inscibed between mounts Presented to/Col. J.R. Cockerill./by the/3rd Brig. 4th Div./15th Army Corps and around to the other side 53rd. and 70th Ohio./97th. and 99th Ind./48th Ills/Companies and T. & F./1st Ills Artilery(sic), the ring mounts with high-relief applied silvered figures of a zouave with mustache and goatee and a panoply of American arms consisting of two Model 1861 rifle-muskets, a naval cutlass, bugle, knap-sack, canteen and kepi, together with its original quarter-sawn oak case having decorative ivory straps, lid with brass plaque incribed Col. J.R. Cockerill/70th O.V.V.I.
34 inch blade
Some minor staining and some minor wear to gilt, scabbard with some wear to varnish on back-side, pommel slightly bent, case with losses to ends and lacking much of original interior.
Colonel J.R. Cockerill, commanding the 70th Ohio Volunteers. Organised in West Union, Ohio the unit moved onto Paducah, Tennessee then to Savannah, Tennessee March 6-10, 1862 occupying Pittsburg Landing. Participating in the battle of Shiloh April 6-7, 1862 and the siege of Corinth. Moving to Memphis then advancing into Mississippi and onto Vicksburg, where the 70th participated in the siege of Vicksburg being placed in a line to prevent the advance of Confederates under General Joseph E. Johnston. In November 25-26, 1863 it participated in the battle of Chattanooga, and pursued the fleeing Confederates to Ringgold and marched to the relief of Knoxville. The regiment re-enlisted and in May started on Sherman's Atlanta campaign, participating in all the battles and marched on to the sea. The 70th suffered heavily at Fort McAllister, then fought at Bentonville, marched through Richmond and participated in the Grand Review, and was mustered out August 14, 1865. A bronze plaque by T.A.R. Kitson, commemorating Col. Cockerill, was placed at the Vicksburg Battle site in 1918, while a stone monument commemorating the 70th Ohio Infantry stands nearby.
In his report on the battle of Shiloh, Col. Cockerill writes April 10, 1862 to Col. Buckland, Comdg. Fourth Ohio Brig., Fifth Div., Army of the Tennessee:
"I retired about 400 yards by the right flank, and finding the rebels advancing almost parallel with us, we opened fire, which did good service."
Provenance
By direct descent through the family.