Wiley Sword had a long and successful career as a manufacturer’s representative. But he became nationally known for his hobby as a Civil War historian with one of the country’s most extensive private collections of war memorabilia.
Sword’s collection of artifacts and more than 1,000 original letters and documents was acquired in January by the Pamplin Historical Park, a 424-acre Civil War historic site in Petersburg, Va.
Many of his books about the nation’s bloodiest conflict are considered must-reads by Civil War buffs.
“Not only was he one of the pre-eminent collectors, but he was an accomplished historian. And this was his avocation, not his profession,” said Wilson Greene, executive director of Pamplin Historical Park. “I don’t know anyone who combined Civil War scholarship with collecting like Wiley. He was a wonderful man. The Civil War community is much poorer now that Wiley is not with us.”
Sword of Suwanee died Nov. 9 of complications from a staph infection. He was 77. His memorial service was Nov. 12 at Johns Creek Baptist Church.
Born on Dec. 7, 1937, in Mexico, Mo., Sword grew up in Detroit. An only child, his grandmother used to keep him occupied by telling him stories about his family and U.S. history.
By age 12, he had become particularly fascinated with Civil War history and got his parents’ permission to purchase an antique gun. It was the first of what would become a huge collection of Civil War-era weapons he would buy, research and write about over the next six decades.
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1959, Sword joined his father in the family business, working as a manufacturer’s representative to the automobile industry until his retirement.
In his spare time he studied Civil War history, collected artifacts, led battlefield tours and shared his insight and discoveries in speeches and publications.
Sword sold his weapon collection in 2000 and retired the following year. He then relocated to Atlanta and began collecting Civil War soldier letters.
His letter collection impressed Civil War experts not only for its size, but for its significance as a research tool.
“Some collectors go for letters or documents from famous people. Wiley didn’t collect that way,” Greene said. “Wiley sought out soldier letters that told stories. The stories made them special. Most were from common soldiers and low-ranking officers. In some cases, the letters shed new light on our understanding of important events that occurred on the battlefield.”
Once all the items have been catalogued and made keyword searchable, the park will make the collection accessible to researchers and the public. Some of the soldier letters already are on display in an interactive, touch-screen exhibit at Pamplin’s National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.
“One of the reasons we exist is to tell the story of the common soldier of the Civil War,” Greene said. “The collection greatly enhances our ability to tell the story.”
A prolific author, Sword was a frequent contributor to Civil War magazines, including a regular column for Blue & Gray magazine.
His first book, “Shiloh: Bloody April,” was published in 1974. Other publications include “Mountains Touched With Fire: Chattanooga Besieged, 1863,” “President Washington’s Indian War” and “Embrace an Angry Wind,” which won the 1992 Fletcher Pratt Prize for the best nonfiction book on the Civil War.
“He was a genuinely nice guy who happened to be a historian. He was always eager to share his findings with others,” said Dave Roth, founder, editor and publisher of Blue & Gray. “His scholarship was superb, and his writing style was very readable. He wrote the kind of books you didn’t want to put down.”
Sword participated in the making of Civil War documentaries, including an acting role in the 1993 series “Civil War Journal” and as a consultant for the 1999 series “Civil War Combat.”
He also will be remembered as a devoted family man and a staunch University of Michigan football fan who enjoyed golfing, traveling and lecturing.
“Family came first. He was truly a humble and good person,” said his wife Marianne Sword. “He provided for his family and contributed to American history. He felt the preservation of history was very important to this country.”
In addition to his wife, Sword is survived by his sons Andy Sword of Norcross and Greg Sword of Cumming and three grandchildren.
About the Author
