Beschreibung:

AN IMPORTANT HISTORIC UNITED STATES NAVY CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION SWORD by Tiffany & Co. New York Presented to Lieut. Louis N. Stodder By his Boston Friends Feb 9th 1863 "Monitor" The gilt brass hilt is adorned with oak-leaf wreaths, swags and thirteen star American Shield cap. Rope guard, oak branch decorated USN and upturned flying American Eagle finial. Engraved Presented to Lieut. Louis N. Stodder By his Boston Friends Feb. 9th 1863 "Monitor" on guard. Marked Collins & Co. Hartford Conn. and 1861 at ricasso. The blade with two extensive etched panels bearing arabesques surrounding the standing figures of Constitution, a Naval Officer and a Sailor. Black leather scabbard with gilt brass mounts of high relief anchors and oak leaf, The scabbard chape has engraved dolphins and an anchor drag. 29 inch blade. Louis Napolean Stodder (born Boston, Mass. February 12, 1837-died Brooklyn, New York October 8, 1911). Stodder was Acting-Master aboard the "U.S.S. Monitor" during her famous engagement with the Confederate iron-clad "C.S.S. Merrimac". During this engagement Stodder was seriously injured by a shell from the "Merrimac" striking the "Monitor's turret, while he was at the wheel. Several scholars and colleges have published reports on Stodder: "Acting-Master Stodder was stationed at the wheel for revolving the turret, and when disabled Stimers took his place" (Maclay, page 249.) In a report to Acting Rear-Admiral S.P. Lee, Commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Commander J.P. Bankhead mentions the conduct of his officer's and men as follows: "I would beg leave to call the attention of the admiral and of the department to the particular good conduct of Lieutenant Greene and Acting-Master L.N. Stodder, who remained with me until the last, and by their example and bearing did much towards inspiring confidence and obedience on the part of others." In another report, Rear-Admiral Lee reports to Honourable Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: "[Bankhead] commends paryticularly Lieutenant Samuel D. Greene, his executive officer, and Acting-Master L. N. Stodder, as worthy of all praise" . Stodder served on Receiving Ship Ohio , Monitor , and Adela . He was honourably discharged as Acting Volunteer Lieutenant on January 10, 1863. Accompaning this lot are facsimile photographs of Stodder with his fellow officers aboard the deck of the "Monitor" and xerox copies studio portraits found on pages 161 and 165 in the famouse book Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War ; letters by Thomas S. Halpin, Jr. and Norm Flayderman; numerous facsimile copies of Stodder's service records, marraige and death certificates, and his widow's pension application. The battle between the "Monitor" and "Merrimac"is the famous story of battle of the irons-clads. Some concider the iron clads, one of the most important in modern naval history. The significance of this engagement, when the South met the North in a clash of iron at Hampton Roads, Va. though basically a draw, lays in the fact that it signaled the end of the era of the wood hulled ships-of-war.