Civil War Presentation Dagger 79th New York Highlanders

[kanemono]

. This is a G. Wostenholm & Son, Washington Works, Sheffield, England, dagger marked I*XL which was presented to Lieut. J. B. Sinclair 79^th Regt. by J. Height, May 25th, 1861. The dagger is eleven inches long overall. The fittings are German silver with ivory scales. The Wostenholms were selling knives to America as early as 1830 through a partnership with a William Stenton. They established offices from New York across the country to San Francisco through which they could service the growing demand for their craftsmen made I*XL knives. James Bruce Sinclair was born in Tarrytown, New York in 1840. Sinclair mustered into Co. E, of the 79^th New York Militia, Cameron Highlanders, as a 2^nd Lieutenant on May 13^th, 1861. Sinclair was wounded at the 1^st Battle of Bull Run, at the battle of Gains Mill and at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. In October of 1861 Sinclair transferred into the 14^th U.S. Infantry. Sinclair was promoted to Brevet Colonel on March 13, 1865. After the war he served as a Captain in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington Territories where he was engaged against hostile Indians until he retired because of complications from wounds he received during the Civil War in 1871.

 

 

 

[kanemono]

Here is a portrait of James B. Sinclair from the The United States Army Heritage and Education Center, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

 

[sundance]

Boy that is one beautiful knife. Great also to have a picture of the owner.