1850 Staff and Field Officer Sword 
Reverse (Back)
Presentation inscription obverse upper ring mount
Guard with US which makes it a Staff and Field Officer style
Wire Wrapped Shark-Skin GripUnion shield often seen on early Collins pommels
Typical Collins style Grip is small in diameter
in Model 1860 Cavalry style
Obverse with engraved ring mountsBlade shows a camp scene and mounted soldier
typical of Collins & Co blades
Obverse of BladeShows panoply of arms with eagle perched and Pluribus Unum above
Caduceus at right (Staff with two serpents and dove above)
Philadelphia style boot Drag 
Reverse blade with 3-D U. S., typical of Collins Blade, two mounted soldiers, and torch with pistols on either side
Reverse drag with elaborately engraved horse head, swords, glove, crested helmet, shield and panoply of arms with axes, mace and pikes topped by a Phrygian cap
At one time the bottom of the drag was rounded and symmetrical. It has been worn down from use in long marches, camp life and battles during the 8 months leading up to Barnett's death
When Captain Barnett was presented this beautiful sword, he wrote to his father to tell him he would be carrying it upon the field. He sent his old sword home, so this would have been the only sword he carried up until his death. The presentation of a sword to an officer from his men tells how much they admired and looked up to him. The night before Barnett's death at Antietam, he had a premonition of death. He knew that he would not make it out of battle alive and requested that his sword be sent to his family and friends. He told his second sergeant that he would find his sword in his hand. The sword was seldom used as a weapon in battle, but it was drawn to signify the start of a battle and it was used during the battle to lead the men. Barnett's men could always see him and the shining blade of his uplifted sword at the front of his company. If Barnett said it would be in his hand when he fell, then his sword was in his hand from the start of the battle of Antietam until his death about 4-5 hrs later. He was shot in the forehead at the head of his company. Moments before bullets were flying around him like hail and he was nobly cheering on his men and keeping them in line. Flag bearers and officers were placed out front and in harms way to lead and motivate their men and thus were targets for sharpshooters. Barnett fell mortally wounded, but he still held tight to his sword, and there it was in his hand when his men got to him. This was the only thing he wanted his family to have and I'm sure it had a special place in their home. It was placed over the national colors on his casket at his funeral. The poem read at his funeral said "his good sword helped to bring the boon of freedom to the slave!"
See my blog http://jamesbarnett.blogspot.com/ for exact quotes and history of Captain Barnett and his sword.
