Posted12/16/22

Finial Style: Point

Location Housed: Fort Chadbourne Museum, Bronte, Texas

Measurements: 9" length

Recovery Location: On the grounds of the Fort.

Finial Attribution: Unknown

Photograph Attribution: Lana Richards

Additional Information: Fort Chadbourne, Texas, named after 2nd Lt. Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne, who was killed at the battle of Resaca de la Palma during the Mexican War, began it existence as a fort in 1852. The fort was initially established by the 8th U.S. Infantry, Company's A & K.

U. S. soldiers, prior to the war, who visited the fort were, Robert E. Lee, George Pickett, James Longstreet, John Bell Hood, and Albert Sidney Johnston. Lt. Alfred Pleasonton, of the U.S. Cavalry, commanded the fort for a period in October 1854. Pleasonton went on to be a Major General of Union Cavalry during the War Between the States. 

Prior to the beginning of the War Between the States, and the shelling of Fort Sumter, Texas Regimental Forces took the surrender of Union forces at the fort in February 1861. Texas troops taking  the surrender were later mustered into the Confederate Army at the fort. 

Prior to the surrender of Union Forces, the fort had been used as a stopping place for the Butterfield mail route which began to run in 1858, and ceased to run during the war period. The mail line was re-established in 1867. The fort was re-established by Union forces in 1867 by the 4th U.S. Cavalry, then abandoned the same year due to the lack of water and supplies. 

During an archeological recovery at Fort Chadbourne, which was conducted by the Fort Chadbourne Foundation, the illustrated point was recovered, and eventually placed in the museum at the fort. The point is believed to be a flagstaff finial, however; some would argue the piece is a pike top. It could also be argued the piece is from the top of a lance carried by a cavalryman. The area at the bottom of the ferrule portion of the piece has rusted away where a mounting hole might have been found. 

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