It is in your past that you discover who you are...

              American Swords, LLC.​​​​

Colonel William Henry Jr.​

1st New Jersey Regiment

Bull Run/Manassas (No Casualties)
Battle of Gaines Mill (Captain Brewster killed, major Hatfield mortally wounded, and Captain Mount wounded)
Charles City Cross Roads & Glendale
Battle of Second Bull Run
Battle of Crampton’s Pass & South Mountain (Brigade suffered 40 killed)
Battle of Antietam (Colonel Collet Killed)
Battle of Fredericksburg
“Mud March”
Chancellorsville Campaign
Battle of Maryes Heights (Second Fredericksburg)
Salem Heights
Gettysburg (Lt. Col William Henry in command bringing 292 men to the field - no casualties)
Battle of the Wilderness (Lieutenants Seagraves and Swan Killed)
Spotsylvania Courthouse
Assault on the Salient, “Bloody Angle” (Capt. Wyckoff & Lieut. Moffree Killed)
Battle of Cold Harbor
Third Battle of Winchester
Battle of Fishers Hill
Battle of Cedar Creek
Assault on and fall of Petersburg
Appomattox Court House (Surrender of General Lee and his army). 

This is the finest Horstmann Presentation Sword available; period.  Presented to Lt. Col. William Henry Jr. of the First New Jersey Infantry likely on his promotion to Lt. Colonel around November 29, 1862.  The battle honors on the scabbard define the battles participated in up to this time.   Had the sword been presented at wars end, it would certainly have included Gettysburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House and others listed below. 


First New Jersey Infantry Civil War Losses: 153 Killed or died of wounds & 99 died from disease or accidents.  Of sobering reality, it should be noted that the 1st Regiment lost all but three of twenty seven line officers.

The rare sheet silver grip is beautifully engraved with the New Jersey State seal on the face and Lieut. Colonel Henry's monogrammed initials "WHJr" on the rear.

The German silver scabbard has relief mounts with 1-1/2″ finely  engraved silver insets in each mount, patriotic American eagle surrounded by a sea of stars with "E Pluribus Unum" ribbon, with Ladies Liberty on the middle inset and Justice on the drag inset.  The scabbard presentation reads: 


“PRESENTED TO / LIEUT COLONEL WILLIAM HENRY, JR. / BY THE OFFICER’S OF THE FIRST REGIMENT NEW JERSEY /         VOLUNTEERS, AS A PROOF OF AFFECTION AND A TRIBUTE TO / FIDELITY, GALLANTRY AND PATRIOTISM MOST NOBLY / ILLUSTRATED IN THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE / ARMY OF THE POTOMAC”.


The lower scabbard is engraved with battle honors “BULL RUN”, “WEST POINT”, “GAINES MILLS”, “CHARLES CITY-ROADS”, “MALVERN HILL”, “MANASSAS PLAINS”, “CRAMPTON’S PASS”, “ANTIETAM”, “FREDERICKSBURG 1ST & 2ND BATTLES”, “SALEM CHURCH”.


Opposite side of scabbard is engraved “COMMISSIONED ADJUTANT, 1ST N.J.V. / MAY 31 1861; MAJOR, AUGUST 12 1862; LIEU’T COL. NOVEMBER 29 1862”.


The blade is the highest grade that Horstmann offered, being full Damascus with gold etched patriotic panels.


Hilt displays drooped wing American eagle as central panel with a serpent shaped additional branch of guard terminating above eagles head into a serpent’s head. 


Hilt and scabbard mounts are all gilded and raised relief.


William Henry, Jr (1830-1889) rose from Adjutant to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry during his Civil War service. Commissioned 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant on May 31, 1861, he served in this capacity in the Battle of First Bull Run and the Peninsular Campaign. Promoted to Major of the regiment on August 12, 1862 to replace Major David Hatfield, who had succumbed to wounds received at the June 27, 1862 Battle of Glendale, he then participated in the Battles of Second Bull Run, South Mountain and Antietam at this rank. When Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wilkes Collet was promoted Colonel of the 1st New Jersey, Major Henry was advanced to Lieutenant Colonel on November 29, 1862. Serving as second in command at the Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, he assumed command of the 1st New Jersey, which was part of the famed First New Jersey Brigade, when Colonel Collet was killed at the Battle of Salem Church during the Chancellorsville Campaign (May 3, 1863).He led the regiment at the successive battles of Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness and Spotsylvania. At the last battle he bravely led the unit as it assaulted the “Mule Shoe” salient. After jumping up on the Confederate works and waving his sword in defiance of the rebels, he remained at the front to conduct the retreat of the regiment when its Corps was ordered to pull back. Lieutenant Colonel Henry was the last man of the regiment to leave the battlefield. He was mustered out on June 23, 1864 when his term expired, receiving no brevet promotions despite a brave combat record. His younger brother was Captain Joseph Henry of the 9th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, who was the first New Jersey officer to die in combat during the Civil War.


CONDITION: Extremely fine overall, this sword was well cared for. Hilt retains 80% plus original bright gold gilt. Scabbard mounts retain some of their gold gilt, especially in protected areas and relief engraved areas. Silver insets and silver grip have a clean silver patina. German silver scabbard body is smooth with clean silver patina with crisp engraving. 34″ blade is overall grey with dull luster showing Damascene patterns, retaining virtually all its original gold with areas of staining and pitting, especially at tip and one central panel with eagle. A portion of the original red velvet washer is retained.

Call: (805) 252-8868

Battles  Lieutenant Colonel William Henry, Jr. was present at:

Call: (805) 252-8868

Finest Horstmann Presentation sword available on the market​

Colonel William Henry Jr. was at every major Civil War Battle including Gettysberg and the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House  

(805) 252-8868

… Quality Takes Time to Find ...

Please check back from time to time, or call me for information about unlisted pieces.

​​First New Jersey Infantry Civil War Losses: 153 Killed or died of wounds & 99 died from disease or accidents.

unmatched quality preserved over 150 years

available Swords & Other Items

Please Click on the pictures for details

These swords and other items are available for now.  Items may be removed (or others added), at any time.  I only sell items so that I can buy other ones.  (Sales tax applies, if purchased within California).  I can send more pictures as needed.  Please feel free to contact me  about any of the swords on this site, or if you have swords or Civil War related artifacts you wish to sell.  Additional shipping and insurance charges will apply to international purchases. Buyer assumes all responsibility for checking import restrictions on items purchased.  My items are guaranteed as original.