This sword was presented to Captain Abram H. Krom by the men of Company G, 5^th New York Cavalry on or about May 19, 1863.

The blade is bright with light scattered surface pitting. The heaviest concentration is on one side approx. 4.50 inches from the point. The edge is clean with no nicks either visible or felt. However, there are some signs of rubbing and dirt build up from the blade being taken in and out of the scabbard. The blade is etched on both sides. The etching is not frosty but it is strongly visible. One side has a spread-winged eagle in a glorious sunburst with a riband in his beak that reads “E PLURIBUS UNM.” The opposite side has the usual “US” in a scrollwork design. This etching fronts the true edge rather than the false edge as is the norm. One side of the ricasso is marked “F. HORSTER, SOLINGEN.” The tail end of this stamping is weak but the front part is readable. The opposite side of the ricasso is blank. The leather washer just below the counterguard is solid and complete.

The hilt has a sharkskin-covered grip with a double twisted wire wrap. The sharkskin is worn some on the raised areas with two minor separations. The double twisted wire is complete. The bottom edge of the pommel cap is decorated with an oak leaf design, as is the top of the knucklebow. Two of the three arms of the guard are partially decorated both front and back as is the tip of the counterguard. The brass of the hilt is in good condition with only a light patina on its surface.

Iron scabbard is complete with throat and both mounts and rings. The surface of the scabbard has light scattered mottling throughout as well as two minor dents on one side. Between the mounts in script engraving is “PRESENTED TO CAPT. A. H. KROM BY THE MEN OF CO. G, 5^TH N.Y. CAV.”

Abram H. Krom was born in Tioga, New York on April 22, 1837. When the Civil War broke out Krom was planning to pursue a career in law but gave it up to enlist in Company G, 5^th New York Cavalry on August 1, 1861. He was elected Captain of his Company and commissioned October 9, 1861. The regiment was sent to Camp Harris in Annapolis, Maryland where they spent the winter of 1861. During this time Captain Krom’s Company G became the Color-Company of the regiment. The 5^th saw service in the Shenandoah Valley and was active in the 2^nd Bull Run Campaign. During the Chancellorsville Campaign in May of 1863 Captain Krom was wounded. At Warrenton Junction on May 3^rd Captain Krom engaged some of Mosby’s men. In that fight Krom was shot in the face and left leg and his horse was killed under him. During his recovery from these wounds he was presented with this sword by the men of his Company. Lieutenant Krohn spoke for the Company during the presentation ceremony. He said in part “…The men who have the pleasure and honor of being under your command; men who have learned to respect you…and learned to love you as only soldiers can… have gathered around you today to express their deep gratitude to the kind Providence that has preserved your life to this hour, and to present to you a token expressive of their high appreciation of your military genius and valor… What better could we present to such a hero then this sword?…” In March of 1864 Captain Krom was appointed Major and served with the 5^th until his muster out on October 25, 1864.

After the war Major Krom resided in Candor, New York where he was an active Mason and the first commander of his GAR Post. He was also active in his church, civic and social circles. He died on August 16, 1910 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Candor, Tioga County, New York.

With the sword is a file that contains Major Krom’s military records from the National Archives, a copy of a wartime image of him in uniform, a fuller account of the sword presentation ceremony as well as the speeches delivered and some other Internet research.

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