Re: General Sidney Johnston's Burial
No, THAT sword was a Model 1840 Cavalry officer's saber and so described in the museum inventory. I believe that sword was donated to the museum by Ms. Barret a grand daughter of ASJ. However, given to the museum as ASJ's Shiloh sword, I nevertheless believe that that now still "missing" cavalry saber was one of ASJ's swords from a long career that began in 1823. There is in the Tulane University collectons a note in the ASJ/WPJ papers that mentions purchase of a sword in 1855 the year ASJ took command of the 2nd US cavalry (very likely the missing museum sword?). No, the sword I have been researching was presented to ASJ on December 9th, 1860 by Major Fitz-John Porter and ASJ's former Utah Territory staff, and so inscribed. Evidence now gleened seems to point to this Staff and Field officer's sword as the true Shiloh sword.