This sword and photo belonged to George Rex White who served as a Sergeant and Lieutenant in Company F, 4^th Rhode Island Infantry.

The sword is a Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword minus the scabbard. The blade is semi-bright with light mottling throughout and scattered small spots of dirt and pitting. The etching on the blade is still visible. One side is decorated with a “US” surrounded by crosshatching and floral designs while the opposite side has a United States flag and crosshatching and flora to match. The true edge has one rather large nick about halfway down its length with three or four smaller ones scattered over the entire length. There is no maker’s mark at the ricasso. The hilt has a nice leather warped grip with twisted wire. The leather looks to be very good and the wire is complete but there does appear to be residue from a cleaning or polishing agent caked in the top two and last course of the wire. The pommel cap, knuckle bow and counterguard are of brass and follow the usual design. There is some wiggle to the knuckle bow and counterguard but nothing too serious.

With the sword is a heavily retouched and hand colored photo of Lieutenant White standing by a flag draped table holding what may be this very sword across his chest. The image was taken with light contrast and then gone over in pencil by the artist to bring out the details. The cap and frock coat are a dark blue. The infantry insignia on the front of the cap has been touched with gold but the numeral “4” can still be seen at center. The shoulder straps on the frock coat have also been outlined in white and gold. The trousers are sky-blue with a dark blue leg stripe. At his waist is a gold sash and a brown belt with a rectangular eagle plate of the NCO variety with the applied silver wreath. The flag is also done is color. The image comes framed and meas. approx. 7.75 x 9.75 inches. The frame is a thin wood frame that has been painted gold and is from the early 20^th Century.

The last item in this little group is a mostly typed paper label with an old handwritten note. The label comes in a 6.75 x 5.75 inch frame that looks to be of the same vintage as the frame the photo is in. the label reads “THIS SWORD BELONGED TO GEORGE REX WHITE, WHO WAS A LIEUTENANT IN COMPANY “F” 4^TH REGIMENT OF RHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. GIVEN TO GEORGE REX LYONS, FROM MABEL WHITE DAUGHTER OF LT. GEORGE REX WHITE JANUARY 1935.” Then in old ink is handwritten “GIVEN TO GEORGE REX LYONS BY HIS COUSIN MABEL WHITE IN YEAR 1935. NEWPORT, R.I.”

George Rex White enlisted as a Sergeant in Company G, 4^th Rhode Island Volunteers on September 11, 1861. At the time he was living in Newport. The regiment moved to Washington where it arrived in time to take part in the funeral procession of General Edward Baker who was killed at Ball’s Bluff. The regiment saw its first action during Burnsides North Carolina campaign where they fought at Roanoke Island and Newbern. With the 9^th Corps it participated in the Antietam and Fredericksburg Campaigns. On January 13, 1863 Sergeant White was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant and transferred to Company F. In early 1863 the regiment moved to Fortress Monroe and operated in the area of Suffolk. The 4^th helped turn back the Confederate besiegers of that town and spent the rest of 1863 in that area. In March 1864 Lieutenant White went home with some veterans to recruit. He returned about the middle of April. On July 15 he became ill and was absent until September 15, 1864 when he rejoined his regiment in front of Petersburg. He remained with his regiment until mustered out on October 15, 1864.

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