'Holy Grail of Civil War Swords' Found in Massachusetts Attic
LiveScience
In March, Anne Bentley, curator of art and artifacts at the Massachusetts Historical Society, received a pivotal text from her boss: "The sword is in the house."
The artifact is more than just a sword. It also served as a beacon that the 54th Regiment followed into the July 18, 1863, assault on Fort Wagner, in South Carolina the gleaming blade pointed the soldiers' way through the smoky chaos of battle. What's more, the sword stands as a symbol for the crucial role African-American soldiers played in helping the Union win the war.
Even Abraham Lincoln, although initially opposed to allowing African-American men to enlist, acknowledged after the Civil War that the Union's victory hinged on the support of African-American soldiers.
But the sword has been something of an elusive prize after changing hands many times across generations. When Shaw died from a shot to the chest at the Fort Wagner battle, his sword was confiscated by the Confederate army.