Lost for more than 150 years, a precious artifact returns to The Citadel
Charles Courtenay Tew was among the first 26 cadets to report to the Citadel Academy in 1843. He became the Academy’s first honor graduate in 1846 and the first president of the Academy’s Alumni Association in 1852.
While serving as Superintendent of the Arsenal Academy in Columbia (made auxiliary to the Citadel in 1845), Tew was given a sword by the cadets. The scabbard of the sword bears a plate engraved “The Cadets of the Arsenal Academy /To Captain C.C. Tew/November 25th 1858.” The collar of the scabbard bears a second inscription: “Captured at Antietam September 17, 1862.” This is the date Colonel Tew was mortally wounded and the sword, taken from him by a Northern soldier, was lost to history.
On September 17, 2015, 153 years later, the sword will return to The Citadel, courtesy of the 33 Signal Regiment Foundation of Ottawa, Canada. Please plan to attend a special program on Thursday evening, September 17 at 6:30 in the Daniel Library to hear the story of the sword. The official transfer of the sword from the 33 Signal Regiment to The Citadel will occur on the parade ground on Friday, September 18, just moments before parade. More details on these events will be announced shortly.
On September 16, 2015, a special event will be held at Antietam National Battlefield Park in Maryland at 1:00 pm. For more information contact LTC David S. Goble, Director of Daniel Library at dgoble@citadel.edu/843-953-1267
