Civil War Army Swords: A Study of United States Army Swords From 1832 Through 1865
By John H. Thillmann

Illustrated, appendices, bibliography, index, 607 pp., 2008. Mowbray Publishing, 54 East School St., Woonsocket, RI 02895, $89.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Dale E. Biever
Dale E. Biever received his M.Ed. in American history from Kutztown University. He is past vice president for administration and former member of the Board of Governors of the Company of Military Historians. A retired educa­tor, he was registrar at the Civil War Library and Museum in Philadelphia.

Review:
In 2001 John H. Thillmann gave us Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers. He has now added this work on Civil War Army swords and related blades going back to 1832. There are 19 chapters which begin with the 1832 enlisted foot artillery and 1832 enlisted NCO sword and end with militia NCO and militia staff swords, 1830s through the 1860s.

Other chapters deal with 1834 officers’ swords, Topographical and Engineers’ swords, the Model 1840 Medical officers’ and cadet swords, Pay Department, Ordnance and Military Storekeepers’ swords, the Model 1840 NCO and Musicians’ swords, Models 1841 through 1861 General Officers’ swords, the Model 1850 officers’ swords and a chapter covering high grade officers’ swords from the 1830s through the 1860s.

The book includes more than 2,000 black and white photos, and a 16-page color section that is truly remarkable.

Following the Introduction the first chapter looks at the Ames Company and the work of Samuel Huse. A page shows the major parts of the sword and then a section on various types of grip material such as horn, pewter and grip wraps.

Several pages are devoted to the blade itself and foreign proof marks. A final section examines scabbards and mounts. This is necessary reading prior to the following chapters on the various models and their related information.

Each of these chapters contains a wealth of material and photos. There is a background of the model(s) and boxes showing related data such as blade length and width, fuller dimensions, markings, hilt configuration and scabbard description. Numerous photos show the sword being worn by a soldier or officer. Close-ups detail the hilt, scabbard and markings.

Examples of presentation swords are shown with their inscriptions and photos of the men to whom they were awarded. The rare Pay Department, Ordnance Storekeeper and Military Storekeeper swords exhibit photos and information are probably being seen for the first time by the public.

The largest chapter is on the Model 1850s officers’ swords and contains 157 pages of photos, regulations and manufacturers/retailers such as Ames, Millard, Roby and Hawley. An interesting montage shows 11 pages of militia sword hilt elements.

Saving the best for last author Thillmann give us 69 pages of high-grade officer’s swords. The four appendices include pages from the 1834 Ames Daybook and a list of Ordnance Department inspectors from 1830 to 1865.

This is a monumental work and the author is to be commended for his exceptional research and presentation. The text is well-written and the photography excellent. Binding is high quality and the book is hard cover.

Civil War Army Swords is highly recommended for all interested parties and will be especially useful as a research tool for museums and sword collectors. It should also be in your library as a companion work to Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers. This book is also a prime example of edged weapon artistry of the times and those who created such magnificent examples.