Mike, The 5th Mass Inf. only served for 90 days towards the end of the war. As you mentioned, DeCaro was listed as a Private. The only swords that I know of being used by privates during the civil war, other than what has been mentioned in other posts, is the Sword Bayonet that went with the Enfield and Zouave Rifles. Their is also a type of weapon called a Dirk, which looks like a saber, but it is much shorter...16-20" at the most. I have no idea if they were used during the civil war, but in 1812 they were......usually in the navy though. Do you recall enough of the sword to give a description? Keith Bailey