tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 10, 2015 I just acquired this model 1850 civil war era presentation sword that belonged to a soldier locally here in Western NY. Sword is marked on the scabbord and blade by Horstmann & Sons. The presentation is not on the scabbord where usually found but on the backside of the guard. It reads: "Presented to J.H. Canfield by C. Rosseel , Buffalo, Apr. 30/61. Quick research shows that John H. Canfield was in the 21st NY and wounded at the 2nd battle of Bull Run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted December 10, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted December 10, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted December 10, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted December 10, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted December 10, 2015 Share #6 Posted December 10, 2015 Nice sword congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted December 10, 2015 The presentation has "Capt." before his name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 10, 2015 Share #8 Posted December 10, 2015 What a beautiful sword. Can I ask, did you buy directly from an owner or get it at a shop, on line or in an auction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted December 10, 2015 What a beautiful sword. Can I ask, did you buy directly from an owner or get it at a shop, on line or in an auction? From another local picker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunmore1774 Posted December 11, 2015 Share #10 Posted December 11, 2015 Very pretty ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted December 11, 2015 Share #11 Posted December 11, 2015 nice sword . Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raidercollector Posted December 11, 2015 Share #12 Posted December 11, 2015 I second it,Real nice sword. And engraved to,That's a plus. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 11, 2015 Author Share #13 Posted December 11, 2015 Here is a photo of the Horstmann tag on the scabbord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted December 11, 2015 Share #14 Posted December 11, 2015 Great looking sword and provenance! Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 12, 2015 Share #15 Posted December 12, 2015 I can't stop going back to look at this sword. It's neat that the presentation is on the guard rather than the scabbard. Also, I've never seen the Horstmann plaque on the scabbard like that. I wonder if that was a feature reserved for presentation swords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish69 Posted December 18, 2015 Share #16 Posted December 18, 2015 Doing some research I believe John H. Canfield was part of the 74th New York State Militia regiment prior to the war. No state militia units were needed to fill the troop quota in 1861, which angered many within the 74th. Quickly companies in the 74th were converted into a volunteer regiment the 21st New York Vols. of which Canfield served as an officer. The presenter of the sword Charles Rosseel was the Major of the 74th NYSM and probably a good friend of Canfield. Rosseel I believe died in 1869 at age 42 in Buffalo area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share #17 Posted December 19, 2015 Thanks for the post. If you notice the presentation on the sword shows his rank on April 30, 1862 as Captain but entered the 21st NY as a 2nd Lt. just days later on May 9, 1861. I may be wrong but when researching the 74th (and 65th) it appears that the rosters and need for officers was filling up quickly with most before Canfield got in. It appears that several officers before him were able to transfer with the rank they held and possibly no need for more Captains therefore a lower rank?. The presenter of the sword, Charles Rooseel, is buried locally in Buffalo while Canfield is buried south of here in Bath, NY. I would also assume that Rooseel and Canfield were friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish69 Posted December 19, 2015 Share #18 Posted December 19, 2015 tigerfan, good to see that you've already jumped on the specific research for Canfield and his sword, good info. Based on the cemetery obelisk for Rosseel they appear to be a family of means with many other family members buried there. When did Canfield die & have you visited his grave yet in Bath? Assume his National Archives military & pension files would have more info + any obtainable NY State Museum info. Always good to see an ID'd CW sword go to a collector in the actual geographic area the sword came from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerfan Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share #19 Posted December 19, 2015 Canfield died Nov. 16, 1892 and haven't had a chance to go to the cemetery in Bath. Although I did call them and they told me what is written on his headstone. Holidays and a bathroom makeover have taken over for the time being. Rooseel is buried at Forest Lawn in Buffalo and the headstone for him (family) is large and tall. There isn't much in any NY archives or museums about him but assume the archives in Washington has a fair amount of info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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