Civil War Sword Returned to Soldier’s Gravesite
In 2012 Ted Gonzalez, owner of the Pacific Diamond and Swiss Watch Exchange, bought a civil war sword from an estate dealer. “I thought it was unusual just because I’ve never bought one before [so] I decided to buy it and decided to keep it,” said Gonzalez.
It was not until client Paul Perrone noticed the name Lt. Edwin Coe engraved on the weapon did Gonzalez know what do with the sword. Coe was a union soldier from Worcester, Massachusetts, serving in the 57th Regiment. He died on June 16, 1864 leading a charge during the Battle of Petersburg.
Perrone subsequently contacted Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia, who confirmed his findings. The sword was sold and shipped to the battlefield, and from there Chris Bryce used historical documents to pinpoint exactly where Coe died. Bryce and his colleague took the sword to where Coe fell. “For me, being right there where Coe was killed and fell in battle defending what he believed in, takes your breath away. It’s certainly how I field when I was standing out there,” said Perrone.
See Cam Tran, Civil War Sword Returned to Soldier Killed in Battle, KITV, Feb. 26, 2015.