brevet-union-major-general-benjamin-dornblaser-grouping
Lot 174
Brevet Union Major General Benjamin Dornblaser Grouping
Lot Details & Additional Photographs
As follows: Model 1850 Foot Officer's Sword, 31-3/4 in. blade etched with U. S. and scrolled foliage on the left side above a panel reading "Philadelphia," the right side has "E. PLURIBUS UNUM" and a worn panel reading "W H / Horstmann & Sons (?); the pierced brass hilt incorporates a "US," the wooden grip wrapped in ray skin secured with twisted brass wire, included is an iron scabbard with brass mounts (overall length 39-1/2 in.) (all elements heavily cleaned and polished; the scabbard with numerous dents; old solder repair where the pommel meets the guard; small area of ray skin loss below the guard's rear)...plus, brass field glasses, unmarked, both tubes fitted with leather (6-1/2 in.) (leather split on the left with chips to the right; overall patina to the brass elements; lenses clear, but adjustment is tight)...plus a pair of period gold fill spectacles, possibly postwar with later case (5 in.) (optics work; frame is intact)...plus six (6) CDVs, three with backmarks for Leon Van Loo, Cincinnati, Ohio, two with Charles Waldack, Cincinnati, Ohio backmarks, and one with no backmark, subjects include a portrait of Phil Sheridan, another of Sheridan with an unknown brigadier and a gentleman in a civilian suit, Sheridan's mount "Rienzi," two views of U. S. Grant, and one of Abraham Lincoln (all images toned, some marks, the Lincoln with a diagonal crease not affecting the portrait)...plus an ebonized presentation walking stick with a gold toned fancy handle, the top engraved "Presented by Phil Harvey Post No. 98 G.A.R to Gen. B. Dornblaser Dec. 30 - 1902." (overall length 36-1/4) (small chips to shaft's finish; the handle's gold remains intact, but there are a few pushes to the top).

By descent through the family

A Pennsylvanian by birth, 33 year-old Benjamin Dornblaser enlisted in the 46th Illinois Infantry, as a Field & Staff 1st Lieutenant and became the regiment's colonel within a yer. While the slaughter raged on in Virginia, Dornblaser found his own corner of hell in western Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. His actions at Shiloh, Vicksburg and beyond positioned Dornblaser to be named a Brevet Brigadier General in February 1865 and a Brevet Major General the following month. He was mustered out of the service in January 1866 with an enviable war record that spoke of his devotion to duty.

$1,000 - 2,000