This Model 1850 Foot Officer’s Sword bears an old paper label glued to the scabbard between the upper and middle mounts that is faded, but clearly reads “Sword belonging to/Capt. Julius M/Ellendorf/Co H 42nd NY.” Ellendorf had risen in the regiment from sergeant to first sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant and regimental adjutant, and was commissioned captain June 23, 1864, while home recuperating from a wound suffered June 3 at Cold Harbor. That commission gave him rank from May 12, 1864, to replace the Capt. P.H. Lennon of Co. H, who had been killed at Spottsylvania, but the regiment mustered out on July 13, before Ellendorf could return to it and be officially mustered in at the new rank.

The sword is a simple, inexpensive version of the regulation pattern, shows use, and was likely acquired by Ellendorf when he first moved up from enlisted man in February 1863. The sword uses leather on the grip rather than sharkskin, scabbard mounts that omit ring bands, and blade of standard form with ricasso and broad fuller, but plain, unetched and without maker or retailer marks. The sword rates good for condition with the blade lightly cleaned and showing mottled oxidation and spotted discoloration. The hilt has the standard  open floral work in the guard with some traces of gilt in recesses. The grip shows wear, but the wire is intact. The quillon is bent forward. The scabbard mounts have a nice, untouched patina, but leather should be handled very carefully, being well worn with significant crazing, flaked finish loss, creases, and weak areas. The label is old and the writing faint, but can be made out. The sword knot appears original to the sword, but is not regulation, shows moderate wear, and is a mix a blue and muted gilt.

Julius Marea Ellendorf (sometimes Julian by mistake in the records) was born in Germany about 1841, came to the US in 1858, and was a hatter by trade, living in Springfield, NJ, when the war started. He enrolled on Long Island in the 42^nd New York, nicknamed the Tammany Regiment in honor of the Tammany Society of New York, who sponsored the unit. Their monument at Gettysburg is one of the most remarkable, portraying the Delaware Indian chief Tammany standing in front of a wigwam, much to the confusion of some tourists, with the additional twist of adding an Irish nickname to a unit that had a significant German component.

In any case, Ellendorf enlisted for three years and mustered in with the regiment on June 22, 1861, as fifth sergeant, Co. D, June 22, 1861, giving his age as 21. He had some organizational talent or presence, moving up to third sergeant the next day and first sergeant by July 1862. He made officer in Spring 1863, receiving a commission as second lieutenant of Co. H March 27, giving him rank from February 10, and was officially mustered as of February 12, like the date at which he first began performing the duties of the office. Again, he seems to have performed very well, being promoted again, this time to first lieutenant April 3, 1863, and performing the duties of regimental adjutant, with the rank and post confirmed by a commission issued in August that gave him rank dating all the way back to February 19 in place of an officer who had resigned.

The regiment served entirely in the Army of the Potomac, mostly in the 2^nd Corps, seeing its first serious losses at Balls Bluff, then at Antietam, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and Cold Harbor, where Ellendorf was wounded on June 3, 1864. The wound was reportedly to the ankle and he was home recuperating when he was commissioned Captain on June 23, with rank from May 12 to replace P.H. Lennon of Co. H, killed at Spottsylvania, but the regiment mustered out on July 13, before he could be officially mustered in at that rank.  The regiment claimed wartime battle honors for 19 battles, and for 36 battles and engagements overall, with losses of 92 killed and 328 wounded according to its Gettysburg monument. Dyer lists 11 officers and 142 enlistedmen killed or mortally wounded.

Ellendorf went on to serve in two other units as well. In 1864 he was commissioned 1^st Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 93^rd NY National Guard when it mobilized for 100 days Federal service, from July 20 to November 1, 1864. (This has sometimes been misconstrued as service in the 93^rd NY Vols.) And then in very late 1864 or January 1865, he joined the 1^st US Veteran Volunteers, one of the regiments recruited from veterans to form “Hancock’s Veteran Corps,” who were to be armed with the most modern weapons and provide an experienced fighting force under a renowned combat commander. This regiment was organized at Washington and Camp Stoneman, D.C., and served until early 1866. Ellendorf once again was commissioned as its Adjutant, with the rank of 1^st lieutenant, but before discharge received a brevet to Captain, U.S. Volunteers, giving him that rank from March 13, 1865, “for faithful and meritorious service in the field during the war.”

This is a good example of the regulation line officer’s sword carried by an officer with some significant combat experience and service that spanned the entire war.   [sr][ph:L]

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