The Staff and Field Officer’s Sword shown here was made by James Conning in Mobile, Alabama. The sword was carried by Lieutenant William Waller Mordecai of Company H, 8^th Alabama Infantry. It is identified as Lieutenant Mordecai’s by the scratch engraving on the middle mount with reads: "WW Mordecai Mobile Alabama. It would be expected that a Conning scabbard would have numbers on the mounts, but this example proves that is not always the case, because the sword’s hilt is engraved "WW Mordecai”, so these definitely belong together. The upper and middle ring mounds are slightly different but are Conning mounts; whether it left Conning that way, or was repaired by Mordecai later will remain a mystery. However, we know it is wartime because Mordecai scratch engraved the mount like he had the hilt.

The sword is published in Richard Bezdek’s Swords of the American Civil War on page 214, but it is misidentified as Waller Thompson Mordecai’s sword, William Waller’s brother. The engraving is WW Mordecai, leaving no doubt that it was Williams, not Thompsons sword.

William Waller Mordecai was born in Mobile on November 15^th, 1826. He was a successful merchant when he enlisted in Company H, the Mobile Independent Scouts, 8^th Alabama on May 17^th, 1861. He was elected 2^nd Lieutenant on June 8^th. The 8^th spent the winter on the Virginia Peninsula. He was wounded at Seven Pines, on June 1^st, 1862, and was mentioned for conspicuous gallantry during the battle. This led to his promotion to Captain on October 24^th, 1862, after he had recuperated from his wound.

Captain Mordecai went on to lead Company H in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg July 2^ndand 3^rd, Bristoe Station, The Wilderness on both May 6^thand 7^th, Bradshaw’s Farm, Spotsylvania on the 10^th, and again on the 12^th, Hanover Junction, Totopotomoy Creek, Cold Harbor, White Oak Swamp, five different engagements at Petersburg, all without another wound. On his 6^th Petersburg battle, that of Weldon Railroad, August 21^st, 1864, he was severely wounded. After a period absent to heal, he returned in time to surrender with his men at Appomattox on April 9^th, 1865.

As you can see, Captain Mordecai’s military record equals any of Lee’s most stalwart veterans. He returned to Mobile and led a quiet and prosperous life where he was regarded as "a man of sterling character, faithful in the discharge of all the obligations of life, and retained through life the respect of all who knew him.”

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