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Captain William H. Sanger, 1st New York Mounted Rifles


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This is a relic Civil War Officers sword hilt that was found in Virginia 1n the 1920's. At that time the only thing that was important was the object so no record was kept of where the hilt was found. Sanger was captured and escaped. My guess is that is when he lost the sword.

William H. Sanger was born in Kings County, New York in 1842. Immediately after graduating from the College of the City of New York, Sanger enlisted as a private in the First New York Mounted Rifles. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant of his company in November of 1861, First Lieutenant in December, and Captain in August, 1862. For three years he saw active service in Virginia. Sanger commanded the advance guard at the capture of Norfolk when the "Merrimack" was blown up, and was the first Union soldier to enter the city. He resigned his commission on May 24, 1863. Sanger re-enlisted as a Private on September 2, 1864 into the 2nd New York Cavalry (Harris Light Cavalry). He was promoted to Captain of Company E on September 14, 1864. Sanger served through the Shenandoah campaign as Captain in the Second N. Y. Cavalry. He was twice wounded by bullets and once with saber, and was once captured by the enemy, but escaped on the same day. He was mustered out of the service on May 15, 1865. The crushed relic officer’s cavalry sword hilt named to Sanger must have lost when he was captured.

Dick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is the kind of dug ID'd Union piece that gets me excited. Decent histories on both regiments he served in. GREAT piece, your lucky :)

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