US Model 1860 Light Cavalry OFFICER sword by Ames, rare! ID’d

Description

One of the most difficult to find Civil War swords, the elusive Ames cavalry officer!  This gem popped out of an estate sale in St. Louis, Missouri, about 20 years ago.  How it got there is anybody’s guess.  It is an exceptional example of an impossible to locate pattern–in 45+ years, I have only seen about SIX.  This example is positively identified to Ferris Jacobs who enlisted in 1861 and served until 1865, leaving service as a Brevet General!  Jacobs served mostly in the 3rd New York Cavalry and for a short while at the end of the War in the 26th NY Cavalry.  Most of his duty was in North Carolina and Virginia throughout the Civil War.  The sword is accompanied by the original kid leather case and sword knot and a large binder of research.  At some point it time, the scabbard was bright nickle plated as often seen by GAR members who continued to carry their field weapons for parades and assemblies.

This is a RARE pattern and with ID, a true investment grade edged weapon.

Residence Delhi, NY; 25 years old.
Enlisted on 7/6/1861 at Delhi, NY as a Captain.

On 8/22/1861, he was commissioned into “E” Co. New York 3rd Cavalry.
He was Mustered Out on 10/12/1864 at Varina, VA

On 3/15/1865, he was commissioned into Field & Staff New York 26th Cavalry.
He was Mustered Out on 7/1/1865 at Albany, NY

Promotions:

• Major 6/12/1863
• Lt Colonel 6/18/1864
• Brig-General 3/13/1865 by Brevet
• Lt Colonel 3/1/1865 (As of 26th NY Cavalry)
• Colonel 6/14/1865

Born 3/20/1836 in Delhi, NY
Died 8/30/1886 in White Plains, NY

—

Organized: Meridian Hill, VA on 9/9/1861

Mustered out: 9/6/1865

Officers killed or mortally wounded: 3

Officers died of disease, accidents, etc.: 1

Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 45

Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc.: 150

(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)

From	To	Brigade	Division	Corps	Army	Comments
Sep ’61	Mar ’62	Cavalry	Bank’s		Army of Potomac
Oct ’61	Mar ’62	Cavalry	Stone’s		Army of Potomac	6 Cos.
Apr ’62	Jan ’63	Cavalry			Department of North Carolina
Dec ’62	May ’63	Unatt Cav		18	Department of North Carolina
Apr ’63	Jun ’63	Keystone	Dist of Pamlico	18	Department of North Carolina	2 Cos.
May ’63	Jun ’63	Leahman’s	Dist of Albemarle	18	Department of North Carolina	Co. D
May ’63	Jun ’63		Dist of Beaufort	18	Department of North Carolina	Cos. B, C
May ’63	Jul ’63	Cavalry		18	Department of North Carolina
Jul ’63	Aug ’63	Cavalry	Defenses of New Berne	18	Department of North Carolina
Aug ’63	Oct ’63	Defenses of New Berne	Dist of North Carolina	18	Department of Virginia and North Carolina
Oct ’63	Apr ’64		US Forces, Newport News	18	Department of Virginia and North Carolina
Dec ’63	Mar ’64		Dist of Currituck	18	Department of Virginia and North Carolina	Cos. B, C
Apr ’64	Dec ’64	1	Cavalry	18	Army of the James
Dec ’64	May ’65	Norfolk and Portsmouth	Dist of Eastern VA	18	Army of the James