1. Oil on canvas portrait of Alexander Ramsey Thompson, Jr. American School. ca 1830s. Visible 26 1/4 x 33 3/4 in., framed to 32 3/16 x 39 1/2 in. 

In this fine painted portrait, Thompson is depicted in his dress uniform as Lieut. Colonel of the United States Army, with epaulettes and high collar. 

2. US Model 1832 General and Staff Officer's sword. 1832-1850. 

Straight double-edged spear point blade, narrow central fuller. Bronze hilt with straight cross guard, boat-shaped guard. Lacking knuckle bow. Ball-shaped pommel. Sheet silver rolled and pressed into rope design. Blade acid etched with panoplies of arms, martial, and patriotic motifs. 

3. Memorial miniature portrait on ivory of Thompson. Presented in original double-sided gold frame. Reverse with lock of hair and ink inscription: Reverse inscribed: "Alex. R. Thompson. / Lt. Col. 6th. Reg. U.S. Infy. / Born Feb. 19th. 1793 / Killed in Battle Dec. 25th 1837." With original case.

Provenance: Descended within the Thompson family to Alexander Ramsey Thompson IX of Deerfield, Massachusetts. Lot is accompanied by a signed letter of provenance. 

Alexander Ramsey Thompson II (1793-1837) was the son of Revolutionary War veteran Alexander Ramsey Thompson I (1759-1809), an artillerist who served under General Lamb and was involved in the foundation of West Point as a military academy (see Lot 1).

A year after his father died in 1809, Thompson II enrolled at the United States Military Academy. The outbreak of the War of 1812, however, interrupted his studies, and he graduated early, receiving a commission as a First Lieutenant in the 6th Infantry Regiment. He went north, repelling invasions by Genl. James Wilkinson north of the St. Lawrence River and in 1813 participated in the Lake Champlain Campaign where he distinguished himself at the pivotal Battle of Plattsburgh, where he heroically defended a bridge with just 100 soldiers in his command. 

After the conclusion of hostilities, he was brevetted major and was assigned to garrison duty in forts throughout the United States and the frontiers. In 1832, he participated in the Black Hawk War, earning a further promotion to Major of the 6th Infantry. 

Five years later, in 1837, he became a Lieutenant Colonel. The same year, he was assigned to Florida to engage the Seminole tribe, who were resisting removal. Thompson and the men of the 6th Infantry were put under the command of Colonel Zachary Taylor, who was amassing a large force at Fort Gardiner in a planned invasion of south Florida, the Seminole stronghold. 

On Christmas Day 1837, Taylor ordered the attack, first ordering the Missouri Militia to charge, followed by the 6th Infantry. The Seminoles specifically targeted the American officers, and in the charge, Thompson was shot twice in the chest. Despite his grievous wounds, he continued to lead his men, reportedly saying, "Keep steady men; charge the hammock - remember the regiment to which you belong!" He then received his fatal wound, shot a third time. It is very possible that the sword, with conspicuous battle damage, may have been the sword he used to rally his men. 

Thompson and the other dead Americans were given hasty burials as Colonel Zachary Taylor retreated swiftly to Tampa, having suffered heavy casualties, especially of officers. His body was later recovered and interred at West Point. 

An important portrait and sword of one of the most significant casualties of the Second Seminole War. 

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.

[Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [Art, Paintings, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera] [Colonial America, 13 Colonies, Thirteen Colonies] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe] [War of 1812, Battle of Lake Erie, Battle of Plattsburg] [Seminole Wars, Florida Wars, First Seminole War, Second Seminole War, Florida Territory]