This sword bears a wonderful inscription and was presented to a Captain in the 10^th US Infantry by men of the regiment after their return home from the Mexican War. The sword has a gilt brass knight’s head pommel and flared cruciform crossguard, with a matching gilt bras scabbard. The grip is silver, densely engraved with top and bottom bands of overlapping leaves, with one panel showing an eagle with US shield, raised wings, and head craning upward, surrounded by swirling floral sprays, and the other panel showing a circular cartouche at center with a trophy of arms and flags with superimposed US shield, with arched floral panels at top and bottom. This is an impressive piece of engraving.

The crossguard panels are cast and chased with a Liberty cap on a pole rising from the bound rods of the fasces symbolizing the Republic, surrounded by aching leaves with the tips of swords and spears showing above them. On one side of each branch of the guard, the motif is surmounted by an eagle with spreadwings holding a wreath or leafy branch in its beak. A chain knuckleguard links the knight’s head pommel and one branch of the crossguard.

The blade is etched on both sides, with the frosting graying but the motifs distinct and both panels ending in a leafy spray. The obverse shows floral scrolls, sprays and leafy vines, with an eagle with upraised wings about four-fifths of the way up, with a US shield on its chest, clutching arrows and olive branch, with an arc of stars and sunburst glory overhead, and a ribbon scroll dry needle etched E Pluribus Unum, with concluding floral motifs above. The reverse shows a flaring palmette at bottom, with … above and a scroll dry needle etched “N. P. Ames / Cutler.” (There is a little spotting below that, but we see no third line with location.) The central motif amid the floral elements is an impressive tall pair of crossed, furled flags on spearpoint pikes, with knotted flag cords, with a Liberty Cap on a pole rising above them at center, surmounted by an arc of stars and glory of sun rays.

The scabbard has two carrying rings at top and at the midpoint. The ring bands are cast and chased with floral motifs. A braided sword sling with snap hook on one end and short hook on the other links two carrying rings and is likely from a belt, perhaps gold embroidered cloth, presented with the sword. The scabbard has a trefoil tip and two drag blades. The reverse of the scabbard is plain. The obverse is engraved with floral motifs at the throat and above the drag. A long blank engraved panel with lined border and floral ends extends below the lower ring mount. Another is placed between the two ring bands and is professionally engraved in five lines:

Presented to Capt. Joseph A Yard by the Non-Com Off'rs and Privates/of 10th U.S. Infantry, As a token of their high regard for his Officer like conduct/and his humanity virtue and uniform kindness to his men which justly entitles/him to be called the Father of his Company and the Soldiers friend. /August 22, 1848.

The condition is very good. The scabbard shows some natural rubs and tarnish, but the gilt finish is still strong and there are only minor dings or dents. A throat piece may be missing. The hilt shows some gilt finish and the engraved silver grips are very strong. The blade has good edge and point and strong etching with graying to the frosted ground and some scattered freckling and small stains, but with the motifs intact, fully visible, and vivid in places.

Born in 1802, Joseph Ashton Yard, initially studied medicine, but then took over a deceased brother’s brush-making business in Trenton, which prospered until 1835.  after which he held several government jobs, first as Keeper of the New Jersey State Prison, but a post dependent upon the political party in power, leaving him employed when Democrats were in power and out of work when Whigs took over. He worked at a number of other jobs in between, serving as a census taker, running an auction and commission house, and trying the newspaper business for a time as well, supporting Polk, and gaining the customs house appointment as a result. In 1847 he recruited a company of volunteers, one of two organized in Trenton, who mustered in as Company G of the 10^th US Infantry, with a brother, Benjamin Yard, as one of his two second lieutenants. Yard’s commission was dated Feb. 25, 1847 and his assignment to the 10^th April 9. The company, four officers and ninety-three enlisted men marched from Trenton April 6, 1847, to Fort Hamilton, from where they sailed for Matamoros, Mexico, on April 11, arriving on May 5. They spent most of their service on garrison, provost guard, and convoy duty, but Yard reportedly also served during the period as military governor of Reynosa, situated about 90 miles west of Matamoros, along the Rio Grande, receiving a letter of appreciation from its officials and leading citizens when he left.

The company suffered a good deal from sickness and disease, losing nine dead from yellow fever and dysentery, including Yard’s brother Benjamin. Yard himself was taken ill in November 1847, but continued on active service until he received a two-month leave of absence due to ill health by Special Orders  #87, March 11, 1848, Headquarters Army of Occupation, Monterey Mexico. He also received a two-month extension, and reported himself fit for light duty on July 1. The company, however, sailed for home from Matamoros on July 10, reached Fort Hamilton on August 4 and was mustered out from Aug. 21 to 24. Yard had likely rejoined them there, mustering out Aug. 21, the Aug. 22 date on the sword likely reflecting the date the papers were signed, with Aug. 21 as the effective date. The actual presentation of the sword took place at the Mercer County Court House on the evening of August 31, where veterans of the regiment witnessed it, and the ceremony included presentation of a letter signed by over 300 soldiers.

Yard returned to work at the New York City customs house, a job that ended with the Polk administration, but was elected to the NY Assembly with the support of many Whig party members as well as Democrats in Williamsburg. In 1850 he superintended construction of a penitentiary in Syracuse and was later its Warden for two years before another political shuffling removed him, though he returned to the Custom House during the Pierce administration. During the Civil War he served twice, enlisting first on April 223, 1861, and being commissioned Captain of Co. A, 3^rd New Jersey Infantry Militia, for 90-days service, leading the advance into Virginia at 2:00 A.M. on the morning of May 24, taking position near the Abingdon house on the Alexandria Road, and in mid-June advancing to point near Roach’s Mill on the Alexandria & Loudon Railroad. Yard mustered out with the company July 31, but returned to service again during Lee’s move north in the Gettysburg campaign, he was commissioned again, as Captain of Co. I of 1^st NJ Militia Infantry on July 1, 1863, serving until muster out on July 23.

Yard died in 1878. His obituary included testimonials to his various humanitarian deeds in military and civilian life. In addition to the evidence of the sword, the good feeling toward Yard by his men in the Mexican War was also clear in letters home. One wrote to a local newspaper soon after Yard departed on sick leave: “Our beloved captain, Joseph A. Yard, left us some two of three weeks ago, to return to his own climate, on account of his ill health for the past two of three months, and is now, we expect, with his family at Trenton, if he is alive, which his company all hope is the case. They all wish him back once more, to partake of their difficulties with them, as he was always willing to do. What was good enough for a soldier, was good enough for Capt. Yard. We all still retain the hope that he may soon join as in this foreign country, and in case of continued hostilities, that he may be at our head to lead us to the battle-field.” Yard’s kind treatment of his men had been evident even before leaving home. One of them had been arrested for debt. Yard got him free on a writ of habeus-corpus, enabling him to go to Mexico, where he won a promotion.

This sword is impressive and a wonderful testimonial to a well-loved officer.  [sr][ph:L]

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