A presentation sword belonging to Lt Col Porter S Cox is to lead a sale of US civil war memorabilia at Heritage Auctions, with a valuation in excess of $40,000.
It's inscribed "Presented to/ Lt. Col. Porter S. Cox/ the Officer who whipped Thrailkill/ and killed Bill Anderson the Bandit/ by his friends in St. Joseph, Mo./ Nov. 25th 1864".
 The sword was presented to Lt Col Porter S Cox |
William "Bloody Bill" Anderson was an infamously sadistic guerrilla leader on the confederate side who was behind a number of massacres in the region, while Cox was the young Union officer tasked with killing him - a feat he accomplished in 1864.
Cox would later be targeted in an assassination attempt by the outlaws Frank and Jesse James - who sought to avenge Anderson's death.
Heritage describes the lot as a "beautiful sword with a truly unique history and certainly one of the most historically impressive Civil War artifacts we've ever cataloged."
A letter sent from confederate general Stonewall Jackson to a friend is expected to make around $30,000.
He writes on hearing his friend is leaving the army: "Should you ever come near me either in peace or war, I hope that you will not fail to honor me with a call."
The auction takes place on June 12-13.
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