This is a very nice condition Cook & Brother Naval Cutlass made in New Orleans prior to the end of 1862.  The blade is bright and in nice condition with some pitting and clearly discernable forging flaws in the metal.  The brass guard is pleasantly patinaed and clearly marked Cook & Brother in the correct place.  The scabbard is old and in nice condition, opening up at the tip, but otherwise sound.  The neat part is that written on the scabbard, in his own hand, is "Corporal Isaac Flowers of Company F, 28the Michigan Infantry's death bed wish.  While his penmanship is pretty good, his sentence construction is failing.  However it basically says that this is a relic of the "Rebellion of 1861" captured by him and that at his death he wants it given to his youngest child to keep as long as he lives and transferred to his descendants, if he has any.  This has recently come out of a family who has dutifully kept it.  It is accompanied by a small monograph, which is the record of the 28th Michigan Infantry and appears to be published by the State of Michigan.  Corporal Isaac Flowers is listed in this book as having enlisted in Company F, 28th Infantry as Corporal, August 29, 1864 to serve for three years.  He mustered out at Raleigh, North Carolina June 5, 1866.  There is also a book published by Robertson titled Michigan in the War, 1861-1865.  This was published by W. S. George & Company, State Printers in 1882.  A really nice, historic grouping with very interesting history attached.  SOLD!!