Published Collins & Co. Model 1840 NCO Sword Presented to William E. Simonds - 25th Connecticut Infantry - Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient at Irish Bend, LA

American Civil War

32" single-edged straight spear point blade with a 29" stopped median fuller, .85" wide at the ricasso. 38.5" in overall length with a 6.5" cast brass hilt and guard with single knuckle bow. Reverse ricasso is stamped COLLINS & CO/HARTFORD/CONN/1862. The blade is etched with flowing foliate scrolls and vines with the barely legible legend 25th/C VOL on the weak image of a knapsack as part of a trophy of arms on the obverse and W.E. Simonds in a ribbon on the reverse. When the sword was first offered for sale by Skinner in 1987 from the collection of Stanley A. Olpp, it did not have a scabbard, and one was added at some point in time. A blued steel 1840 patterns scabbard with brass mounts now accompanies the sword. The sword is pictured and discussed on page 205 of John Thillmann's Civil War Army Swords. Simonds' commission also accompanies the sword, along with a binder of information and research about him.

William Edgar Simonds (1842-1903) was an employee at Collins & Company in Hartford when he enlisted in the 25th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry on August 18, 1862. He was appointed the regimental sergeant major and as such was entitled to wear the US Model 1840 NCO sword. As a Collins employee it is likely that this specially etched Collins-made Model 1840 sword was given to him by his friends at that company. The 25th CT was a 9-month regiment that performed all of its service in the Department of the Gulf, primarily in Louisiana. On April 14, 1863 Simonds would receive a battlefield commission to 2nd lieutenant for his heroism under fire at the Battle of Irish Bend. His actions would also be rewarded in 1899 when he became a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism that day. The citation reads: "Displayed great gallantry, under a heavy fire from the enemy, in calling in the skirmishers and assisting in forming the line of battle." Simonds was later wounded on June 14, 1863 at the Battle of Port Hudson. Simonds was mustered out on August 26,, 1863.

After his service he attended Yale Law School and received his law degree in two years. He went to work as an attorney, specializing in patent and trademark law. He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1882, eventually serving as Speaker of the Connecticut House. In 1888 he was elected to Congress. In 1890 President Benjamin Harrison appointed him Patent Commissioner, a position he served in until 1893, when he returned to the private practice of law. He died in Hartford in 1903.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg