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Period photographs are great sources of details to consider for our impressions, especially now that high-resolution electronic versions are now available. Another source that I enjoy viewing is 19th Century post-war art, including paintings, engravings, and monuments.
In that last category, last week I had a chance to view the monument to the 54th Massachusetts on Boston Common. There are a lot of interesting details in that beautiful monument!
Here's one: Shaw's sword...
Other than the fact that the blade is missing (
), there are a number of interesting details (see the pic)...
1) It is NOT a US Staff and Field Officer's Sword. It is either a cavalry saber (US or British, I cannot tell) or some sort of "non-regulation" sword, based on a foreign pattern. A number of discussions have come up lately infantry officers carrying cavalry swords, and this *might* be another example.
2) The use of a sword knot. Note that, not only is a sword knot present, but it is wrapped around the wrist. I see very few knots in the hobby and wonder if they were more common than a survey of hobby-officers would indicate.
Anyway, just thought I'd share some pics and try to stir up a little discussion on a slow afternoon.
Enjoy!
In that last category, last week I had a chance to view the monument to the 54th Massachusetts on Boston Common. There are a lot of interesting details in that beautiful monument!
Here's one: Shaw's sword...
Other than the fact that the blade is missing (
), there are a number of interesting details (see the pic)...1) It is NOT a US Staff and Field Officer's Sword. It is either a cavalry saber (US or British, I cannot tell) or some sort of "non-regulation" sword, based on a foreign pattern. A number of discussions have come up lately infantry officers carrying cavalry swords, and this *might* be another example.
2) The use of a sword knot. Note that, not only is a sword knot present, but it is wrapped around the wrist. I see very few knots in the hobby and wonder if they were more common than a survey of hobby-officers would indicate.
Anyway, just thought I'd share some pics and try to stir up a little discussion on a slow afternoon.
Enjoy!
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