A ceremonial sword that belonged to a New Brunswick doctor who served in the American Civil War has found its way back home, where it will be on display at the Loyalist House museum in Saint John, starting this summer.

Troy Middleton, vice-president of Loyalist House, said he was excited to have Dr. John F. StevensonB次元官网网址檚 dress sword as part of the collection of the New Brunswick Historical Society, which operates the museum.

Middleton said he noticed the item for sale on Facebook by a private collector a little more than a year ago. Wanting to bring home this piece of Canadian-American history, the society raised the required $6,200, and the Canadian Museum of History donated the display case, he said.

B次元官网网址淎nything from the American Civil War that you can trace back to the owner, you know, it adds a premium to artifacts,B次元官网网址� Middleton said in an interview Friday.

B次元官网网址淏ut to be able to physically hold something that a New Brunswicker owned, who served in the war B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not something that happens every day B次元官网网址� you can physically connect an artifact to a person. ItB次元官网网址檚 just hard to put into words. I was just very excited. Very excited.B次元官网网址�

Stevenson was born Nov. 30, 1836, in St. Andrews, N.B.

In 1854 he graduated from KingB次元官网网址檚 College in Fredericton B次元官网网址� now called the University of New Brunswick B次元官网网址� and attended Harvard Medical School in 1859.

He returned home to St. Andrews in 1861 and began practising medicine, but about three years later, in January 1864, he offered his services to the United States Medical Corp. Stevenson, who was white, was assigned as a surgeon with the 29th Connecticut Infantry, one of the African-American regiments that were raised after the Emancipation Proclamation B次元官网网址� the announcement in January 1863 by then-president Abraham Lincoln that all people enslaved in the country were free.

StevensonB次元官网网址檚 sword is nickel-plated steel with engravings on the blade. As a medical officer, Stevenson was entitled to wear a presentation or dress sword, Middleton added. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 decorative. ItB次元官网网址檚 not sharp or anything like that. ItB次元官网网址檚 because doctors, they didnB次元官网网址檛 fight battles,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that ceremonial swords from the 1800s are rare.

Up to 50,000 Canadians, including Maritimers, took part in some capacity in the Civil War B次元官网网址� a fact many people in this country are unaware of, he said.

Middleton, president of the 20th Maine Co., a non-profit group that searches for Atlantic Canadians who served in the American Civil War, said his research has identified 29 Black Canadians who joined the 29th Connecticut, of which three were from New Brunswick and one from Nova Scotia.

B次元官网网址淨uite a number of doctors from Atlantic Canada went down,B次元官网网址� Middleton said. I suppose it was a great way to hone their medical skills.B次元官网网址�

Stevenson fell sick in 1865 and died on Nov. 8 that year in New York, on his way back to New Brunswick. His remains were sent home, and he is buried in the St. Andrews rural cemetery.

The New Brunswick Historical Society wants to organize a ceremony at the cemetery in spring or fall to honour StevensonB次元官网网址檚 service and memory, Middleton said, adding that he looks forward to the sword going on display in July.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost come full circle,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲here, how it disappeared 160 years ago we donB次元官网网址檛 know, but, you know, itB次元官网网址檚 turned up, and itB次元官网网址檚 now here in New Brunswick.B次元官网网址�

Hina Alam, The Canadian Press