As indicated on the scabbard this sword was presented to Jefferson N. Neff of the Jefferson Guards by his friends as a token of esteem. The Jefferson Guards was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the summer of 1861, probably in response to President Lincoln's call for troops after the outbreak of the Civil War. Neff was identified in the Lancaster Intelligencer of July 9-10, 1861 as being "well-qualifed" as company captain by his "education and experience for the position--having belonged to that crack corps, the Lancaster Fencibles." The sword is dated 1862 on the left ricasso, so it could not have been presented to him upon formation of the company. However, it appears that the company was absorbed into the 122nd Pennsylvania as Company G in 1862 and Neff may have received the sword at that time. Like many other soldiers who died during the war, Neff was killed by illness, not combat. He contracted dysentary and typhoid fever, and died at Potomac Creek on April 21, 1863. (see Sprenger, 1885)