Ornate high-grade US m1850 staff and field officer's presentation sword. Presented by 3rd Mississippi Infantry African Descent (53rd USCT) to their Colonel, Richard H. Ballinger, an "Uncompromising Enemy of Traitors." 

31" slightly curved, single-edged spear-point blade with 12" stopped median fuller. Overall 39". Blade is bright and softly frosted for its entire length and acid-etched with vivid martial and foliate decorations. Obverse with spread-winged eagle and reverse with "US".

Gilt brass half-basket hilt with hinged counter guard and elaborate foliate quillon. The knuckle guard is cast with acanthus leaves and foliate motifs. Phrygian cap-style pommel with inlaid red gemstone and deep-cast Lady Liberty with laurel crown. Cast pewter silvered grip handle in alternating reeded vertical bands.

Gilt brass scabbard with gilt brass mounts and two suspension rings. Scabbard finely engraved between mounts: "Presented / to / Col. Richard H. Ballinger, / 3d. Regt. Miss. Infy A.D. / by the / Officers of his Regiment as a testimonial of their esteem for him as an Officer, Gentleman & uncompromising / enemy of traitors."

Richard H. Ballinger (1833-1906) was born in Knox County, Kentucky but had moved to Sangamon County, Illinois by 1848. He practiced law and was involved in politics, becoming well acquainted with Abraham Lincoln. Family tradition maintains that he clerked for Lincoln, but more evidence suggests he may have clerked for Lincoln's friend Leonard Swett. 

A documented account records a remarkable political interaction between the two Illinois lawyers. Ballinger visited Lincoln at his office in Springfield as a member of a small committee to offer him the endorsement of the nativist Know-Nothings as a candidate for the state legislature. The future President "stated that he had belonged to the old Whig party and must continue to do so until a better one arose to take its place. He could not become identified with the American party - they might vote for him if they wanted to; so might the Democrats; yet he was not in sentiment with this new party." Lincoln expounded at length on his views and concluded, "Gentlemen of the committee, your party is wrong in principle."  Ballinger admitted deep embarrassment and was convinced to join the nascent Republican party, admitting, " I wished many times before Mr. Lincoln was through that I had refused to serve on the committee." In 1856, Ballinger was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. 

His occupation, organizational talent, and experience with government paperwork likely played a role in his appointment as Quartermaster Sergeant of Company A of the 3rd Illinois Cavalry in August 1861. He was promoted several times, to First Sergeant in September 1862, a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in March or April of 1862, and Captain of the company from August 1st. The regiment operated in Missouri and Arkansas, taking part in scouting, raids, and expeditions. They engaged at the Battle of Arkansas Post, where Ballinger commanded the company as escort to General Morgan. After the battle in January 1863, while disembarking his company from a steamer at Yount's Point, he was partially deafened by the firing of a mortar raft anchored nearby. The disability would stay with him for the rest of his life. 

In April 1863, Ballinger played a small but critical role in enabling Grant to cross to the last side of the Mississippi below Vicksburg. On April 29th, General Grant and Admiral Porter were stymied at an attempted crossing at Grand Gulf, Mississippi. Strong Confederate resistance and out-of-reach batteries prevented their original plan of an amphibious landing there. Ballinger, commanded by General Osterhaus and leading a small party, found a knowledgeable if reluctant local to provide intelligence. They retrieved him under heavy artillery fire from both sides and brought him to Grant's headquarters, where he identified Bruinsburg as a likely crossing. It was here that Grant led his troops across the Mississippi, leading to the victory at Port Gibson and the eventual capture of Vicksburg. 

Shortly afterward, on 14 May 1863, Ballinger was discharged to take command as Colonel of the newly formed 3rd Regiment Mississippi Infantry (African Descent), an all-Black regiment. His stance as an abolitionist was clear: “I am in favor of arming the negroes to fight their disloyal masters...I am ready and willing to risk my life with theirs in such an undertaking. They should be treated as men - fed, clothed, and paid as other troops.” He added that he thought Black troops would be easily disciplined, having been “taught to obey orders from youth up.” 

Ballinger took command of the 3rd Mississippi at Warrenton, Mississippi. His regiment become involved in the Vicksburg Campaign as part of the African Brigade, District of Northeast Louisiana, and the District of Vicksburg, Mississippi. They were posted to Milliken’s Bend and Goodrich Landing, first seeing action at Haines Bluff in February 1864. The regiment was officially assigned to the 1st Brigade, U.S. Colored Troops, District of Mississippi, on March 11th, and redesignated as the 53rd Regiment of United States Colored Troops (USCT) as of that date. 

Notably, a monument erected at Vicksburg commemorates the service of Ballinger's regiment as well as that of the 1st Mississippi Infantry African Descent and "all Mississippians of African Descent who participated in the Vicksburg Campaign."

Ballinger resigned his commission shortly before the redesignation, on 6 March 1864, due to “matters of a personal and private nature.” His pension records suggest it may have been because of increasing deafness, but there could be more to the story. Colonel I.F. Shepard, acting as brigade commander, wanted his removal and suggested that charges were pending against him at Headquarters, but this may have been a personal dispute. Whatever the reason, Shepard did not last much longer in the Army either. Congress refused to confirm his appointment as a brigadier general shortly afterward. 

Ballinger returned to Illinois and the practice of law, but his hearing loss made it difficult to maintain his practice, and he ultimately sought other opportunities. By 1867, he relocated to Virden, Illinois, where he served as Postmaster and owned a sheep farm. Moving west to Larned, Kansas around 1873, he engaged in the cattle business and began the newspaper The Kankakee Chief in 1885. An obituary mentions that at some point in his travels, he served as a “journal clerk” in the Kansas state legislature. All accounts have him as an active participant in Republican Party politics. By 1890 he had moved to Washington state, first to Port Angeles and then to Seattle, where he died in 1906. He had been a member of the G.A.R. and an original Companion of MOLLUS.

One of the highest-grade swords presented to an officer of a Black Civil War regiment that we have ever encountered. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation] [USCT, United States Colored Troops, Glory, 54th Massachusetts, Buffalo Soldiers, Black Soldiers] [Swords, Knives, Bowie Knives, Knife, Blades]

Near excellent with a great blade and most of the original gilt on the brass. The hilt shows some rubbing just on the shell midway on the knuckle bow and the base of the flower on the quillon. The scabbard shows slightly more rubbing from natural handling on the reverse of the upper mounts, scabbard midway between the middle mount and drag, and a little on raised portions of middle and upper mounts, but only very tips of the eagle's claws, clasping leaves of the wreath in which it sits.