Taken at the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864 from Captain Caleb P. Bowen, Company "C," 30th Georgia Infantry. The sword's 29 5/8 in. single fuller blade is deeply etched on both sides, the right side having a manufacturer's panel reading "W. J. McElroy / Macon, Geo." and the left side personalized with "Capt C. P. Bowen." The blade also sports floral embellishments and patriotic devices, to include crossed Confederate first national flags and a prominent Old English "C. S." The brass guard is finely cast with pierced and scrolled floral devices while the polished wooden grip retains its twisted brass wire wrap. No scabbard is present. An extensive archive on Captain Bowen accompanies the sword and it includes his service record, family history, and informed speculation on the sword's origin and capture. Also present is a high quality print on fabric of Howard Pyle's celebrated painting The Battle of Nashville.

LOA 35.25 in

From a North Carolina private collection

Caleb Bowen of Jackson County, Georgia entered Confederate service on September 25, 1861 as a 1st Lieutenant in Co. "C," 30th Georgia Infantry. He would become the company's captain in 1863 and remain so until paroled at war's end. The 30th Georgia's most memorable battles were those around Atlanta and Nashville in 1864. Captain Bowen's active participation in these campaigns resulted in his being wounded, the loss of his sword and, ultimately, his freedom as a POW on Johnson's Island, Ohio.

Tight construction; the wooden grip is highly polished and intact without cracks; the metallic elements with exceptional original surfaces and a deep patina throughout. Simply put, this weapon enjoys a superior state of preservation.

$10,000 - 20,000