Rare - Revolutionary War Hessian Bayonet, recovered at Yorktown, Virginia (ON HOLD,M)

This is another early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 artifacts. Being offered is a Revolutionary War excavated socket bayonet. It has an overall measurement of 16 ½” and the widest part of the blade is 1 1/8”. The bayonet is of Hessian design and is smaller than musket bore, for either an officer’s or sergeants carbine or fusil. It was recovered many years ago at the Yorktown, VA Battlefield.

Major General Marquis de Lafayette and his troops constituted at least half of the allied forces surrounding Yorktown. This meant that the French occupied at least half of the bulwarks surrounding Yorktown. In fact, Washington did not have sufficient troops to encircle Yorktown. Cornwallis and his troops would surely have escaped to New York, had it not been for the presence of the French troops.

On October 3rd, 1781, Allied Forces [American and French] met a force sent by Cornwallis at what became the Battle of the Hook in which the British were driven from Glouster to Yorktown. A French Navy fleet arrived in time to chase off a fleet of British ships that were to rescue Cornwallis and his troops from their dangerous position at Yorktown.

On Oct. 9, 1781, Washington himself fired the first American cannon at the Siege of Yorktown. With the ceremonial shot, one member of the Continental Army remembered, “Earl Cornwallis has received his first salutation.” The artillery barrage from 155 French and American howitzers, cannons, and mortars continued for the next 11 days.

The flashes of the cannons and the flaring bomb shells lit up the night sky as the allies dug trenches and moved closer to Cornwallis’ army. On Oct. 17, Cornwallis agreed to a cease fire. Almost 15,500 cannonballs and bomb shells had been hurled into Yorktown, about 80 rounds per hour. Two days later, Washington accepted the surrender of Cornwallis’ army.

The bayonet has the classic Hessian double notched mortise cut in the socket, that makes it readily identifiable as based upon their pattern. The bayonet does not, however, appear to be of Hessian manufacture, but was probably made in America, as a copy of that pattern. The quality of the bayonet is excellent, so the maker was not just the local blacksmith, but a true metal working artisan.

It remains in very nice condition and very solid, indicating a very early recovery. The very tip is worn down, but does not affect the overall appearance. This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, diggers, and divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with any known provenance. His markings were crude at the time, but now they have proved to be very important. Many of the pieces went through electrolysis to remove crusted rust.

This is the first time this bayonet has been on the open market. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum.  As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included. With all the items on the website, a very friendly layaway is available.