This American small sword was captured from Captain James Parker, an engineer in the Queen’s Own Loyal Virginia Regiment, at the Battle of Great Bridge on December 9, 1775. Captain Parker surrendered this sword to Captain William Taliaferro who commanded the 4th Company of the 2nd Virginia regiment. Captain Taliaferro kept the sword until he was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine and gave the sword to his brother, Captain Benjamin Taliaferro. Benjamin Taliaferro had the sword with him when he escaped capture at Charleston and later when he participated in the Battle of Yorktown. The powder horn and smallsword were purchased together by James Anderson from the Taliaferro Family. They were then purchased by GBB&WHF leadership in 2016.
This object was scanned in collaboration with the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Museum.
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