High Grade Clauberg Presentation Saber To An Officer – 1st Penn Light Artillery. 

High Grade Clauberg Presentation Saber To An Officer – 1st Penn Light Artillery.

This fine presentation saber was “Presented To Lieut. I.A. Nesbit. by the members of Battery B 1st Pa Light Arty April 26th 1864.”  Using John Thillman’s reference on Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers, i found this saber is a blend of the several types of furniture, and grips on the Clauberg import sabers.

The 34 3/4 inch blade is highly polished, with gilt panels on both sides, one being the “US” with florals and the eagle with E Pluribus Unum in riband over simple sunburst, with similar florals, both about 8.5 inches in length. There are some areas of blemishing on both sides toward the point, with some areas of pitting within 6-8 inches from the point. Blade bears the Clauberg logo, and Iron Proof on rounded top of blade near the hilt.

The hilt with hand engraved branch guards uses leaf and beaded designs incorporated into the branches, along with fine chased lines on the upper sections of the branches. The silver grip is unlike any of the types shown, being fluted with smooth columns separated by crescents and circles extending from beneath the leaf decorated pommel cap into the counter guard. The quillon is cast and chased with the leaf flowing into the spiral end.  The underside of the guard is plain, and finished with a white leather washer with scolloped edge.

Upper throat and top ring mount continue the leaf design, and followed by a similar pattern lower ring mount.  The drag is rather elaborate with leaf, and geometric designs fine chasing around those features; the back side being smooth, as are the upper mounts.  The gilt is very strong on the hilt, mounts and drag (fronts),  and showing more thinning on the back side of mounts from handling. Nearly all the silver remains on the scabbard. The original saber knot is wrapped around the hilt, and in very good condition.

A largely untouched saber on the outside, with some cleaning in the area of pitting, otherwise, the blade is untouched in the  bright and etched finish.

1st Lieutenant Isaac Andrew Nesbit, was from New Castle, Pa, having worked in the marble cutting trade before heading to the California gold fields in 1849/50. When he returned he enlisted in Cooper’s Battery “B” as a 1st Lt., and commanded the battery during the Battle of Gettysburg, according to the write-up & obituary on find a grave.  Nesbit enlisted into the “Roundheads” (the nickname of the local unit), on June 28, 1861, and served until the time his battery went into winter quarters near Kelly’s Ford, Va. in 1864.  His record lists him as being dismissed, and assuming the term was used to his leaving the unit for possibly health reasons.  His obituary states, “As an officer, he was highly esteemed by the men of the old battery. As a citizen he was universally respected by all of his neighbors and acquaintances.”  This is born out by the wording on this presentation given after his release from service.

I have provided a copy of information from Find a Grave with the obituary contained there. The battery saw many engagements even before Gettysburg to include: Mechanicsville, 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and more.

A gorgeous saber of high quality, for an officer who fought at some of the hardest battles of the first half of the Civil War.