This incredible Civil War presentation sword won the 2018 Best of Show award from the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association at the 45th Annual Gettysburg Civil War Show (award plaque and a display board included) and comes with extensive research on its recipient: Lieutenant, later Captain, Charles McAnally of the 69th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, part of the famous Philadelphia Brigade. The presentation inscription is dated Oct. 20, 1862, and indicates it was presented by friends in Philadelphia. He was wounded multiple times during the war and wore scars and carried lead in his body for the rest of his life, including the scar from a saber cut to the head he received during the bloody fighting at Gettysburg where the 69th famously repulsed Pickett's Charge at the "Bloody Angle." He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions and capturing enemy colors at Spotsylvania Courthouse. Lieutenant Colonel William Davis wrote: "On the morning of the 12th, about 4 a. m., were reached the front of the enemy, who were posted on Liberty Hill behind works of great strength, and formed line of battle and advance immediately, charging the works of the enemy, which we succeed in capturing taking also a number of guns and 1 stand of colors. The colors were taken by Lieut. Charles McAnally, of Company D, who received a slight flesh wound in the act, and remained on duty with his regiment until he afterward received another wound in the knee, on June 3. . . I have the honor to mention the means of Capt. Kelly, who behaved with great coolness, and rendered me great assistance until he fell mortally wounded; also Adjutant Whildey (who was since killed), who rendered me valuable aid, and behaved with coolness throughout the engagement; Lieut. Charles McAnally, for gallantry in capturing the stand of colors. . .In this engagement I superintended the taking off of twelve guns by my men. After being relieved I was placed temporarily in command of the brigade, placing Lieut. McAnally in command of regiment. . ." Among the included documents are copies of his federal records, including muster rolls and pension records. They show that on September 17 or 18 of 1862, he was promoted from 1st sergeant to 2nd lieutenant and was 26 years old, 5 foot 6 inches tall, had a "red" complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, and was born in Derry, Ireland, and worked as a clerk before the war. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on March 1, 1863. He was detached for recruiting in Philadelphia in early 1864 and promoted to captain of Company G on October 4, 1864, near Petersburg and is listed as the commander of the regiment near Petersburg starting in December of 1864. The War Department records lists him as being awarded the Medal of Honor on July 22, 1897, "for most distinguished gallantry in action at Spotsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864." The citation reads: "In hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy captured a flag, was wounded in the act, but continued on duty until he received a second wound." Casuality records list him as wounded that day, and additional records from June of that year indicate he suffered a gunshot wound in the thigh near his right knee suffered at the beginning of the month at Cold Harbor. He indicates that he was wounded while leading a charge and was taken to the rear twice for his injuries. Pension records indicate he was wounded by a gunshot wound in the right thigh, a saber cut on the head at Gettysburg, a gunshot wound at the right knee at Cold Harbor, another gunshot wound to the left shoulder at Spotsylvania, and buckshot wound in the thigh at Yorktown. He carried lead in his leg for the rest of his life, and also wore the scars of his other injuries including from buckshot by his temple from Yorktown. Included documents also indicate he was wounded in 1861 when he was shot in the leg with a revolver in an altercation at the armory on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. The records also indicate he was court martialed for violating the 7th article of war by threatening to march his men against the commissary if they did not receive bread and for calling the quarter master and his staff thieves. While such an action no doubt concerned his superior officers, it likely won him the endearment of his men for fighting for their care. The 69th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment was also known as the Irish Volunteers because the unit was largely composed of Irishmen like McAnally who were members of the Philadelphia Irish militia companies before the war. They were originally raised as a three-month unit but fought throughout the war. They fought in several of the most significant battles of the war including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and more. They successfully fought off both Wright's and Pickett's Charges at Gettysburg. In the included copy of "Into the Fight: Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg" by Priest, Captain McAnally captured Confederate General Kemper after he was shot and wounded when he came too close to the Union line and secured his sword and other possessions. The 69th were the only unit to hold position on the stone wall on the Bloody Angle rather than withdraw. During the battle, Colonel O'Kane told the men to withhold their fire until they could see the whites of the Confederate "traitors" eyes and reminded the men that they fought on the soil of their home state that day. "And let your work this day be for victory or to the death." While they were ultimately victorious, they lost 151 of their 268 of their men killed, wounded, or captured, including all of their field officers. Colonel O'Kane was mortally wounded. The details of the unit's experience in that battle are covered in depth in "A Brief History of the 69th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers." In it, they state that while other units claimed many of the flags left behind by the Confederates in the fighting and were awarded for it, only the 69th actually remained and fought along the wall and surprisingly did not win any awards for their bravery because they were too busy tending to their wounded and sending captured Confederate troops to the rear to worry about picking up flags. Thus, it was only McAnally who received a Medal of Honor, and he received it for later actions at Spotsylvania Courthouse. In that action, the unit history indicates McAnally was engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle with the rebel color bearer and was nearly shot but was saved by Sergeant Hugh McKeever who took out a rebel about to shoot the captain. Interestingly, they report McAnally threw the flag to the rear and continued fighting and supposed someone besides him would receive a medal for it. As McAnally's own wounds and deeds demonstrate, the unit was heavily engaged during the war and fought bravely without much concern for reward. They lost 12 officers and 166 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in action and another 3 officers and 107 enlisted men to disease. By war's end, only 56 of the original 1,000 men of the unit remained. After the war, he moved to a farm in Lee County, Texas, and also lived in Texas. In the 1890s he moved into the National Homes for Disabled Veteran Soldiers and died on August 8, 1905. The sword has a 32 inch blade etched with scroll, floral, martial and patriotic motifs highlighted by gold wash. Among the designs on the right are soldiers flanking abbreviations for the thirteen original colonies over the Pennsylvania State Coat of Arms and motto "VIRTUE LIBERTY INDEPENDENCE" as well as a banner reading "DEEDS NOT/WORDS" further forward. The spine has "IRON PROOF" and a floral pattern. The left side has and eagle with "E PLURIBUS UNUM" banner and intertwined "US" among the designs as well as the "W/CLAUBERG/knight/SOLINGEN" maker's mark. The gilded brass hilt has "US" and floral patterns, a ribbed silver plated grip, and a golden sword knot. The scabbard has gilded brass fittings with scroll, martial, and patriotic motifs including Columbia on the upper suspension band as well as the golden presentation plague between the suspension bands which has a rope border and "Presented to/Lieut. Charles McAnally/Co. D. 69th Regt. P.V./by your friends in Philadelphia/Oct. 20, 1862." The consignor indicated the presentation inscription plaque was tested twice and is solid 18k gold. The body of the scabbard is silver plated. Also includes a red officers sash.

Extremely fine with light pitting on the otherwise bright blade along with more than half of the original gold wash and distinct etched designs, 30% original gilding remaining on the hilt mainly on the guard, 90% plus original silver remaining on the grip, bright silver plating on the scabbard body, patches of original gilding on the scabbard fittings in the protected areas, some light scratches, general minor wear, distinct designs, crisp inscription, and light aging of the gold plaque. The sash is very good with relatively minor age and storage related wear. This is an incredible Civil War sword presented to a decorated officer who led his men in hand to hand combat in multiple critical battles during the Civil War and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Provenance: Jay Reid Collection.