Section of Civil War Sword Scabbard, recovered at Spotsylvania Battlefield

This is another nice piece being offered; it is an excavated section of a metal sword scabbard. It measures 11” long x 1” wide. It was recovered many years ago from the Spotsylvania, Virginia Battlefield.

The Battle of Spotsylvania was the second major battle in General Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged from General Lee's army and moved to the southeast, attempting to lure Lee into battle under more favorable conditions.

Elements of Lee's army beat the Union army to the critical crossroads of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, and began entrenching. Fighting occurred on and off from May 8 through May 21, 1864, as Grant tried various schemes to break the Confederate line. In the end, the battle was tactically inconclusive, but with almost 32,000 casualties on both sides, it was the costliest battle of the campaign.

A light coat of varnish was applied for preservation and is a very solid piece, with no chipping or flaking. Seldom are sword relics found, so this piece is a desirable relic.