Civil War 1st Maine Heavy Artillery Spotsylvania Courthouse Sword Grouping GAR

  
A very nice historical grouping from the estate of civil war veteran Joseph F. Chadbourne 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry and 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. The grouping includes his GAR sword & belt, a bullet removed from his arm after the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, and a cabinet card sized photo of him with his fellow veterans at a GAR Convention, in which he is identified. The sword is an 1860 style Staff & Field officer's sword with the GAR crest on the guard. It is marked by the B. Beals Company of Auburn, Maine. It is in its original scabbard with three mounting rings, hanging on its white leather sword belt with GAR buckle.

The owner is wearing this belt and sword in the photo. Along with the sword and belt is a flattened Confederate made minie ball bullet, removed from Chadbourne's arm after the battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, during which he and 394 of his comrades in the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery were wounded, along with 82 killed. And lastly a cabinet card sized photo of him and his GAR Unit, in which he is identified as the fifth man from the left in the front row. Size: The sword is 35 1/2 inches long overall, with a 28 inch blade.

The belt is 43 inches long. The photo is 4 1/2 by 8 inches. The minie ball appears to be. Chadbourne of Bradford, Maine, enlisted in the 17th Maine Volunteer Infantry at age 19 on 8/18/1862 at Camp King in Maine as a three year Regiment. They joined 1st Division III Corps, and were under heavy fire at Fredericksburg, after which they were complimented for their coolness by General Berry, their Divisional Commander.

The following Spring they served at Chancellorsville, where they were hotly engaged, losing 113 out of 624 men. They were then engaged at Gettysburg on the last two days, during which they lost another 132 men. A number of its men soon were joined with survivors of the 18th Maine Volunteers and formed into the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Chadbourne served in Company I.

As part of this Regiment they were heavily engaged at Spotsylvania Courthouse, where they suffered 476 total casualties, including Chadbourne. It is not clear whether or not Chadbourne rejoined the Regiment for the Siege of Petersburg where the Regiment, serving as Infantry, suffered the heaviest casualties of the that campaign, and the highest number of officers killed of any Regiment in the Civil War. Chadbourne was not present for the Regiment's mustering out on Sept. 20, 1865, as he was listed as absent, wounded.

Chadbourne carried the bullet that was removed from his arm In his GAR uniform as a Momento. Unfortunately his uniform was severely damaged by insects and was not salvageable. The sword is very good. The blade has minor staining on the etching, but is bright and clean towards the point.

There is a dent in the scabbard, and much of the chrome is worn off, but it is otherwise very good. The belt is quite flexible, with some of the white finish flaking. One hanging strap is torn, but it is all present, including the brass hanging snap. The photo is faded, but still clear.

On the reverse is written in pencil, Grampie Chadbourne, First Row, 5th from left. We seek Information from these sources to share with our customers.

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