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Grant’s sword draws $1.6M bid at Civil War auctionGETTYSBURG (AP) — A diamond-adorned sword presented to Cen. Ulysses S. Grant brought a winning bid of more than Sl.6 million Sunday in an auction of Givi I War items.The sword given to Grant, who later became the 18th president, was one of the marquee item s am ong the 750 to be auctioned Sunday and today in Gettysburg, site of the 1863 tide-turning Civil War battle — by Heritage Auction CalleriesoF Dallas.Online and phone bidders also participated.Another showcase item up For bid was Lt. Col. Ceorge Armstrong Custer's Frayed battle Flag which was auctioned For 5896,250.That leFt Cram's sword as the priciest item, going For 51,673,000 to an unnamed bidder.Cary Hendershott, Heritage's director oF Civil War auctions, described the sword as maybe the finest From the Civil Warpe-riod. It's really a hallmark of American silversmith craftsmanship. He noted that bidders in France recently paid more than 56.5 million For a gold-encrusted sword once owned by Napoleon.Grant's sword was presented by citizens of Kentucky in 1B4-to honor hispromotion toCen-eral-in-ChieF of all Union forces. The silver and gold sword contains a 28-diamond monogram and is covered with intricate designs, including engraved battle scenes on its 33-inch blade. The sword has belonged to the Donald Tharpe Collection of American History since 1989. It remained in Crant's family until the 1960s, when it was acquired by collector lay Altmeyer.Custer's silk, swallow-tailed battle flag was made by his wife, Elizabeth, and carried into battle during the closing days of the all-American conflict.The banner, which Features crossed cavalry sabers, was at Custer’s side at Appomattox Courthouse, Va., when Cen. Robert E. Lee surrendered Confederate Forces to Crant.The Flag was left at Custer’s headquarters at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, in 1876 when Custer and his men were wiped out at Little Big Horn by Lakota and Northern Cheyenne warriors.Custer's flag stayed within his family until 1956, when it was acquired by Dr. Lawrence A. Frost, who kept it until 1990. Elizabeth Lawrence owned the flag until 2003, when it went to the collection of Thomas Minckler of New York City.
Newspaper Details
Indiana Gazette
Indiana, Pennsylvania, US
Mon, Jun 25, 2007
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Denton P.
TX, USA 23 Mar 2025
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