January 13, 2004

Monitor skipper’s sword returned to Naval Academy

Associated Press

Director of the Naval Academy Museum Dr. Scott Harmon talks about some of the engravings on the Worden sword during a ceremony returning the sword to the academy. The sword was stolen in 1931. — Don Wright / AP
 
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A sword presented to a Navy captain who participated in the first battle between ironclad ships was returned Monday to the Naval Academy, almost 73 years after it was stolen from the school.
The FBI recovered the sword from a collector who was not aware that it had been stolen, said FBI agent Jeffrey A. Lampinski of Philadelphia.

Lampinski said the sword turned up during an investigation into fraud allegations against three appraisers on the television program “Antiques Roadshow,” but said he could not provide many details of the investigation.

The sword originally belonged to John L. Worden, the commander of the ironclad Monitor when it battled the Confederate warship Virginia, also called the Merrimack, on March 9, 1862.

The battle ended in a draw, but the Merrimack was unable to carry out its mission of destroying the Union fleet.

A few weeks after the battle, the New York state Assembly directed that a sword be presented to Worden. The sword, trimmed in gold and silver, was made by Tiffany and Co.

 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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