Overall length: 34 1/2". Blade length: 28 1/2". Blade is elliptical cross section and is etched over 13" of its length with various patriotic, military, & foliate motifs, including 2 large American eagles. There is a small panel 4" from the ricasso that reads "W. H. HORSTMANN & SONS PHILADELPHIA". Gilded brass hilt with curled acanthus leaf decorated crossguard & shield languets. One languet has the initials "MS" for Medical Service. The solid brass grip has a large eagle on each side with foliate decoration. There is a large "pineapple" shaped finial at the top. Gilded brass scabbard with foliate embellished mounts. There is a 2" plaque that is engraved "I.F. Everhart. Surgeon 16th Pa. Cav.".  Blade has a light gray patina and the etching remains quite vivid. Hilt retains traces of original gilding and is quite solid. Scabbard also retains traces of original gilding with a couple of tiny shallow dents.

Isaac Everhart, born in Berks County, PA in 1840, was a physician and naturalist who founded the Everhart Museum in Scranton, PA.  At the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the Satterlee General Hospital, then with 4,000 patients.  He graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1862-63.  Everhart then immediately enlisted in the Union Army as an Assistant Surgeon on 6/12/63; on that date he was commissioned into the 8^th Pennsylvania Cavalry.  He was present at thirty battles during the war. On 2/4/65 he was promoted to full surgeon with the rank of major.  On 7/24/65 he was discharged and transferred to the 16^th Pennsylvania Cavalry (161^st Pennsylvania Infantry) upon it’s consolidation with the 8^th PA Cavalry. He was appointed surgeon of the military district of Lynchburg, VA, a position he held until mustered out on 8/11/65.

Following the war he settled in Scranton, where he served on the staff of Lackawanna State Hospital, was a member of the Scranton Board of Health, and surgeon of the 9^th regiment of state militia.

Everhart compiled an extensive and unique collection of birds and animals found in Pennsylvania, which he personally collected and prepared, being an expert taxidermist. He acquired additional specimens in Mexico, the west coast of the US, and Alaska.  In 1908 the Isaiah Fawkes Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science and Art opened to the public.

Everhart died in Scranton on 5/26/1911 at the age of 71. [ph:L]

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