SWORD MISSING
Fitchburg, Mass.

The Tiffany U.S. Army presentation sword, scabbard and waist belt with buckle and straps, presented to Col. Edwin Upton of Fitchburg is missing. The sword was presented by the noncommissioned officers and privates of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteers in November 1862.

The sword, which was in a box in the vault of the Fitchburg Historical Society, was discovered missing in July. Diary records and historical society accession records describe the scabbard as "silver with gold plating," with "gold inlay and the initials EU set in diamonds." The sword belt is also listed as "gold plated." Based on a photograph of Colonel Upton, the sword has a straight blade.

The records also indicate that the etched blade "was silver and chased." The high relief cast silver hilt is in the form of a miniature statue of Liberty that adorns the dome of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. It had a very ornate hilt and knuckle guard with the initials EU set in diamonds. It continues into a cross guard made up of a very ornate shell guard with a curled end quillon. The scabbard has ornate cast mounts at the drag and mouth.

The sword was fabricated by Tiffany of New York City which made many such presentation swords during the Civil War. The cloth lining in the rosewood storage box, which was not stolen, reads Tiffany's of NY. The sword measured approximately 37 inches overall.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Betsy Hannula, Executive Director, (978) 345-1157; e-mail: FitchburgHisSoc@aol.com.; or write P.O. Box 953, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

The Centennial Insurance Company is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and recovery of the Upton sword. For information, contact Harold Smith of Cunningham Lindsey International, (212) 867-3092.