3085

CONFEDERATE GENERAL WALTER STEVENS’ SWORD.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
CONFEDERATE GENERAL WALTER STEVENS’ SWORD.
Walter Stevens uniform, sword belt, sash & boots originally came from Confederate collection of Fred Slaton of Nebo, KY. who purchased it directly from a descendent. Well known Confederate uniform collector Bob Walters next on this archive and displayed uniform, accoutrements & this sword for many years until his death. This grouping was recently broken up and his Napoleonic era Damascene English sword is offered here for the 1st time ever by itself. The entire Confederate General Walter Stevens archive was last cataloged and photographed in detail in the Gary Hendershott 2011 Civil War catalog 157 on cover page 1, 2 & 3, priced at a mere $295,000.00. You can buy Gen. Steven’s sword for a mere pittance, as it is being sold unreserved. Rarely do swords identified to Confederate generals with decent provenance and collection history come to market. 31” curved blade is marked “WOOLEY” on the spine who was a well-known 18th & 19th Century British sword maker. The scabbard is most interesting with gold bullion embroidered arabesque design between the iron Damascene mounts. Walter Husted Stevens (1827-1867) was a Confederate States Army brigadier. He graduated from West Point, 4th in his class of 38 in 1848. Even though born in New York, his service took him to Louisiana and Texas for military service. He resigned in March 1861 after Texas seceded. He married the sister of Confederate general Louis Hebert. He was reputed to be the last uniformed man to cross the Mayo Bridge during the evacuation of Richmond on April 2, 1865. After the Civil War, Stevens was appointed superintendent and engineer of the Mexican Imperial Railroad at request of Emperor Maximilian I. He died of yellow fever at Vera Cruz, Mexico, November 12, 1867. Where he would have received a Napoleonic era English sword with Indian colonial decoration is not known, but sure there is an interesting story there. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of 2011 catalog and copy of Les Jensen letter of authenticity of the uniform which was the key to the archive. CONDITION: Brass hilt has uncleaned dark mustard/olive patina. Shark skin grip is intact w/ heavy wear. Wood scabbard body is missing throat which would have been iron w/ same gold damascene Arabesque decoration. Fabric is heavily worn w/ worn embroidered bullion decoration w/ 8-pointed stars & Arabesques. Blade is mostly dark gray w/ staining & dark pitting. (02-15166/JS). $2,000-3,000.