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Sale 22
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Lot 21
Sword Presented On By Alexander Hamilton To Ensign Robert Wilson. Dress sword, 34 inches long, engraved on under side of guard, "Presented to / Ensign Robert Wilson / From / Lieu't Col. Alexander Hamilton / Dec. 25th 1781." Hilt originally wound with fine silver wire; the guard, pommel, bow and trimmings are all silver, and the scabbard is of black leather. The blade seems to be of Italian or Spanish workmanship, of the rapier pattern. The sword was presented by Hamilton to Ensign Wilson, the youngest commissioned officer in the American army, as a memento of the part he played in the surrender of Cornwallis' forces at Yorktown. This is truly a unique and historic sword.
Included with the sword is an original catalogue published by Emmor K. Adams of Cranford, New Jersey, in 1918, documenting his collection of "Arms, Weapons And Relics of American Wars, &c. Especially the Revolutionary War." This sword is the second item described, No. 102. Adams writes how he came into possession of the sword: "…Thomas Crawford of N.Y. City, came into possession of this sword through James Gregg Wilson, son of Ensign Robert Wilson, who was one of the proprietors of a newspaper called Brother Johnathan, published in N.Y. John Crawford, son of Thomas, sold it in 1861 to William M. Taylor, a Printer, of No. 32 Liberty Street, New York City, from whom it was purchased and added to this collection." Addition information, dated June 4, 1934, notes that after Adams' death, his entire collection was sold to Robert Fridenberg of New York City. The inscription was probably added by a later owner.
On October 19, 1781, Lord Cornwallis surrendered with his entire force, military and naval, to the allied forces of America and France. The Army, with all of its artillery, stores, military chest, etc., was surrendered to General Washington; the Navy, with its appointments, was surrendered to Admiral de Grasse. The delivery of the colors is recounted in Benson J. Lossing's The Pictorial Field-Book Of The Revolution: "…For this purpose, twenty-eight British captains, each bearing a flag in a case, were drawn up in line. Opposite to them, at a distance of six paces, twenty-eight American sergeants were placed in line to receive the colors. Ensign Wilson of Clinton's brigade, the youngest commissioned officer in the army (being then only eighteen years of age), was appointed by Colonel Hamilton, the officer of the day, to conduct this interesting ceremony. When Wilson gave the order for the British captains to advance two paces, to deliver up their colors, and the American sergeants to advance two paces to receive them, the former hesitated, and gave as a reason that they were unwilling to surrender their flags to noncommissioned officers. Hamilton, who was at a distance, observed this hesitation, and rode up to inquire the cause. On being informed, he willingly spared the feelings of the British captains, and ordered Ensign Wilson to receive them himself, and hand them to the American sergeants…"
Estimated Value $10,000 - 20,000.
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