The complete issue
Vol. XXVI, No. 5
(40 pages)
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Inside
Cover image
A sixth-plate ambrotype from the David W. Vaughan collection is a portrait of Pvt. James M. Hart of Crenshaw’s Virginia Battery. This may be the only known image of a soldier clad in Confederate regulation rain gear.
Table of Contents (p. 1)
Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor notes the 143rd anniversary of the Battle of Antietam and highlights the collection of Brian Boeve, who has long had an interest in this pivotal engagement. A letter to the editor discusses a 75th anniversary Gettysburg Reunion Medal worn by a bugler pictured in the last issue.
Cover Story (p. 3)
James Malcolm Hart, who suffered a wound at the Battle of Fredericksburg, is the subject of a biographical sketch.
Passing in Review (pp. 4-5)
Two books are reviewed. Custer’s Southern Officer: Captain George D. Wallace, 7th U.S. Cavalry by John D. Mackintosh praises the author for giving Wallace his due after years of obscurity. The Civil War Up Close: Thousands of Curious, Obscure, and Fascinating Facts About the War America Could Never Win by Donald Cartmell is described as a useful book even though it sheds little new light on familiar topics.
Shiloh, “Place of Peace” by Brian Boeve (pp. 6-12)
A gallery of nine soldier portraits is presented, each illustrated with informative captions. All of the men are identified. They include John Keppel, John Eichelberger and Lemuel Donovan of the 2nd Iowa Infantry, Christie Babbitt and James Robbins of the 55th Illinois Infantry, Edward Cooper of the 23rd Missouri Infantry, George Reiflin of the 24th Indiana Infantry, Charles A. Johnson of the 12th Illinois Infantry and Jesse Sherer of the 5th Ohio Cavalry.
Review at Fort Smith, Arkansas, November 12, 1864 by Jules Martino (pp. 13-17)
A brief history of Fort Smith during the Civil War years is illustrated by six quarter-plate outdoor tintypes that include soldiers from the 12th and 13th Kansas infantries and the 2nd Kansas Battery. Also included is a Library of Congress photo of Union Gen. Francis J. Herron, who inspected the soldiers shown in the tintypes.
Long Soldier by Charles G. Markantes (pp. 18-19)
A famous photograph of Lt. Col. George A. Custer and friends taken in July 1875 includes a Native American originally identified as Bloody Knife. He served Custer as a scout. An article in the Spring 2004 issue of Past Times magazine suggested that the Native American was unidentified. The author suggests that the man is actually Long Soldier and supports his theory with primary source material and other information.
Finding Major Robert C. Wallace of the 5th Michigan Cavalry by John Peter Beckendorf (pp. 20-24)
In this first part of Wallace’s story, the author tells the story of the life and military experiences of the Scottish-born soldier who left behind his memoirs upon his death in 1928. Three portraits of Walter Stevenson, which were at one time thought to be likenesses of Wallace, are included. Also included are two actual portraits of Wallace and two staff images in which Wallace is pictured.
Five Dilley Brothers Go to War by J. Dale West (pp. 25-31)
The wartime odyssey of the five Dilley brothers from Yazoo County, Mississippi, traces the service of Joseph Andrew, Robert William and Samuel Usher Dilley, who all served in the 12th Mississippi Infantry, Abraham Thomas Dilley, who served in Jones’ Cavalry, Mississippi State Troops, and Eugene Perry Dilley of the 29th Mississippi Infantry. Illustrations include a wartime ambrotype of Robert and Samuel, a portrait of Abraham in uniform and a post-war image of Joseph.
Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (p. 32)
In “The First Regiment of Mounted Rifles, New York Volunteers,” McAfee presents a brief history of the regiments and a description of the uniforms worn by the men. A carte de visite of two soldiers from the 1st, wearing distinctive caps adorned with the brass letters MR, illustrates the text.
The Confederate Soldier (p. 33)
A sixth-plate ambrotype from the David W. Vaughan collection is a portrait of two young soldiers who served in Capt. T.B. Ferguson’s Company of the 3rd South Carolina Infantry.
Stragglers (pp. 34-38)
Nine images are featured in this issue, including four unidentified Confederates and two identified Union soldiers, Principal Musician Charles E. Hastings of the 106th New York Infantry and Capt. William Howland of the 127h New York Infantry. Another Civil War image is a double exposure carte de visite of an elderly man named John S. Wilkerson or Wilkenson. In one half of the image he plays a fife and in the other a drum. Two post-Civil War images include an 1898 portrait of Corp. Adrian Ellery Riley of the Astor Battery and a World War I era soldier named Alphonse Bissonett.
Sutler’s Row (p. 39)
The Last Shot (p. 40)
A tintype from the Bill Lee collection pictures an unidentified Union musician with his drum. In the foreground can be seen the leg and arm of a soldier in a chair, perhaps waiting to have his photograph made. In the background two overlapping backdrops are visible.
