Battle of the Wilderness Relic Mansfield & Lamb M1860 Cavalry Saber Dated 1864

Battle of the Wilderness Relic Pick-Up – Mansfield & Lamb M1860 Cavalry Saber (Dated 1864)
 
Offered here is a dug relic of a Mansfield & Lamb Model 1860 Cavalry Saber, dated 1864, recovered from the Battle of the Wilderness. This saber, in excavated condition, shows clear signs of battlefield exposure. The guard appears to have either melted or broken, a detail that adds to the piece’s historical authenticity and mystery—potentially the result of intense heat.
Notably, the saber comes with an older tag identifying it as having been picked up in Williamsburg, Virginia, and attributing its origin to the Battlefield of the Wilderness—one of the fiercest and most chaotic engagements of the American Civil War, fought in early May 1864 as part of Grant's Overland Campaign.
 
Mansfield & Lamb, based in Forestdale, Rhode Island, was a major wartime contractor that produced thousands of edged weapons for the Union Army. The M1860 cavalry saber, known for its curved blade and brass guard, was a standard-issue weapon for Union cavalrymen and saw extensive use throughout the war.
This artifact, though relic-grade, offers a powerful connection to Civil War history and would make a significant addition to any military or battlefield recovery collection. Its dated blade and provenance tag provide valuable historical context for collectors and historians alike.