The Pre-War Klingenthal 1850 Style Foot Officer's Sword of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Maj. (Col.) Robert Orr - 61st PA Infantry
American Civil War
29.5" slightly curved single edged blade with a 23.75" unstopped median fuller and a narrow fuller along the spine. 34.75" in overall length with a 5.5" hilt. Gilt cast brass guard with foliate motifs, grooved wood grip with shagreen covering and 14 wraps of twisted wire. Blade etched with flowing foliate designs. Spine of blade engraved with Klingenthal manufactory markings. The sword is accompanied its brass mounted leather scabbard with suspension rings on the upper and middle mounts. The reverse of the upper mount is engraved in three lines: Robt. L. Orr/Independent/Greys. The sword is accompanied by a large binder of research about Orr and his military service. It includes copies of service records, regimental history information and copies of newspaper articles about him and his service.

Robert Levan Orr (1836-1894) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exploits at the Battle of Five Forks on April 2, 1865. The Medal of Honor citation reads: "Carried the colors at the head of the column in the assault after two color bearer had been shot down." Orr had been the captain of the pre-war Philadelphia Independent Greys militia unit and had originally answered his country's call by joining the 90-day 17th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment on April 25, 1861. He was commissioned as a 1st lieutenant in Company I, which was primarily composed of Independent Greys members, and he remained with the regiment until it was mustered out of service on August 2, 1861. One month later he was commissioned the captain of company H of the newly formed 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The 61st fought with the Army of the Potomac through most of their major campaigns from the fall of 1861 until the end of the war. They fought at Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Antietam and Fredericksburg in 1862 and saw action at Marye's Heights, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg in 1863. 1864 saw the regiment engaged in Grant's Overland Campaign and they fought at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg in 1864, also seeing combat at Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek in that year. 1865 saw the Siege of Petersburg continue with the regiment engaged at the attack on Fort Steadman, followed by fighting at Five Forks, Sailor's Creek and Antietam.

During his service Orr was promoted to Major on December 18, 1864 and transferred to the Field and Staff of the Regiment. In the immediate aftermath of the surrender at Appomattox, he was promoted to Lt. Colonel on April 18, 1865 and to full Colonel on May 14, 1865. Orr was the regiment's major when his bravery earned his Medal of Honor recognition. This sword was previously in the collection of noted Civil War collector Don Ball.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.
From the Collection of George Oldenbourg
Ex-Don Ball

About fair to good overall. Blade with a dull pewter patina, showing a moderate amount of oxidation and discoloration. Blade shows moderate pitting along the last 4" or so nearest the tip. Etching is weak in areas, but remains essentially visible throughout, if not strong. Hilt with a rich, dark ocher patina that is uncleaned. Grip wrap with some wear and the wire intact. Leather throat washer in place. Scabbard fair at best with moderate amount of loss to the leather on the rear. The scabbard is broken in two pieces with a poorly executed spliced repair between the middle mount and the drag and a taped repair under the throat. The leather is stiff with moderate amounts of flaking and finish loss. All of the stitching is missing from the seam along the rear. The mounts are all loose and have a rich, uncleaned patina with the exception of the rear of the upper mount which has been cleaned to make the inscription more legible.