Rare Confederate officer’s sword belonging to First Lieutenant James H. Young, a member of ‘D’ Company in the 42nd Georgia who was killed during the Vicksburg Campaign. The sword is Georgia-made and most likely a product of the Tilton, as the solid cast hilt is nearly identical in shape, size, and construction to those known which are marked ‘M. C. Co, Tilton, Geo.’ Only a handful of these swords are known, and no others with the original scabbard. This is an extremely fine example with a good gray bright blade, single brass wire wrapped around a thin black leather covered grip, and a good scabbard with glued brass mounts. Accompanied by a letter from Civil War expert John Sexton and a letter of provenance from one of Young’s descendants, in part: “The Confederate officer’s sword and scabbard belonged to James Young of DeKalb County, Ga. This sword has never passed out of our family until March 7, 2010. It passed from James Young’s widow to my grandfather, George J. Young, his son. From G. J. Young to Mary Young Carroll, my mother. From my mother to me, Bobbie Carroll Osgood.”
Young was killed on December 29, 1862, at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi. This was the opening engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign and Confederate forces under John C. Pemberton successfully repulsed an advance by an advance by William T. Sherman’s troops. Young was one of just 63 rebels killed in the battle, compared to nearly four times as many Federal soldiers.
