Month: August 2016

The complete issue

Vol. XXII, No. 2
(48 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
A photograph of a U.S. navy lieutenant by Black of Boston wears the rank insignia consistent with 1852 regulations.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 3)
The editor announces that he has been keeping an index of every unit mentioned in the issues, and that it will be available on the web site and also parts of the magazine. Also, MI has a new addition to the team of book review editors: Thomas Boaz, author of Guns for Cotton, England Arms the Confederacy and Libby Prison & Beyond, A Union Staff Officer in the East, 1862-1865.

Mail Call (pp. 4-5)
Topics include congratulations to Phil in his new role as editor and a question about a carte de visite identified as Lotta Crabtree, who was an actress in post-war California.

Rank Insignia of the Civil War U.S. Line Officers: A Primer by Phil Katcher (pp. 6-10)
The author notes, “The U.S. Navy constantly changed its rank insignia system during the war. These different badges give clear clues as t the date of period images.” The survey of ranks continues with text and graphics that diagram the changing cuff designs. Portraits of the following naval officers are also included: Capt. Henry W. Morris, Cmdr. David D. Porter, Cmdr. Edward Hooker, Cmdr. John L. Worden, Master William F. McCann, Lt. Cmdr. George A Bigelow with Surg. Thomas Potter, and Ensign Seth L. La Dieu.

The Andersonville of the North: A Documentary History by John Eltzgaard (pp. 11-17)
According to the author, “Camp Douglas, near Chicago, gained a reputation as the Andersonville of the North. Yet it had one thing Andersonville didn’t, its own photographer.” The narrative continues with a series of report excerpts that touch on various aspects of life inside and outside the infamous camp, and a brief biography of photographer Daniel F. Brandon. The story is illustrated with a Brandon photo from the top of a wall of the camp and portraits of guards (7) and prisoners (8). Three of the guards are identified: Mathias Kesler of the 104^th Illinois Infantry, Samuel S. Fairfield of the 65^th Illinois Infantry and Capt. James M. Tracy of the 8^th Veteran Reserve Corps. Two of the prisoners are identified: William M. Carter and William E. McCormick of the 8^th Kentucky Cavalry. Three other prisoner portraits have tentative identifications: M.O. Mason Ryan of McLean, Texas, Joseph Holt and L. Daly.

A Photograph of the C.S.S. Alabama “In Chase” by Stanley Warren and Budd LaRue (pp. 18-22)
The discovery of a photograph of the famed rebel raider is illustrated with the image that was found in the Museum of the Confederacy and six other images.

The Murdered Children by Steve DeGenaro (pp. 23-24)
During the decade following the Civil War, a disturbed veteran was involved in the gruesome murder of two children in Columbiana, Ohio. Ervin Porter, who had served in Company C of the 24^th Ohio Infantry, distinguished himself during his military service and suffered a wound during the Battle of Chickamauga. On Dec. 12, 1872, he killed his young daughters with a small hatchet. Declared insane, he was imprisoned and died in captivity in 1875.

The Friends of Davy Corser: An Album of Wartime Acquaintances by Mahlon P. Nichols (pp. 25-27)
Service in the 14^th New Hampshire Infantry during the Civil War was for 15-year-old David S. Corser the beginning of a remarkable career as a lawyer, and later as Messenger and Assistant Sergeant at Arms for the U.S. Senate. From 1885 to 1933, he served every president from Grover Cleveland to Franklin D. Roosevelt. He died in 1937. His surviving personal photo album includes his wartime likeness plus images of comrades 1^st Lt. Marcus M. Holmes, 1^st Lt. James B. Mason, 1^st Sgt. David A. Macurdy, 2^nd Lt. Walter H. Sergeant, Pvt. Joseph T. Cotton and a soldier believed to be his brother, Hamilton Corser. Two post-war photographs are also featured of Corser with veterans.

Staff Officers of the 43d Massachusetts Volunteers: Photographic Detective Work with the U.S.A.M.H.I. by Paul R. Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.S. (pp. 28-31)
A case study of the how the author came to identify seven officers pictured in a large outdoor albumen photograph marked, “Camp Rogers, Encampment of the 43^rd Mass. Vols., Newbern, N.C., March 13, 1863.” The photographer, G.H. Nickerson, was a first lieutenant in Company E. of the regiment. The men are Col. Charles L. Holbrook, Quartermaster Henry A. Turner, Lt. Col. John C. Whiton, Chaplain Jacob C. Manning, Surg. Alonzo Carter Webber, Adj. James M. Whitney and Maj. Everett Lane. Also included are photographs from the U.S. Military History Institute in Carlisle Barracks, Pa., that corroborate the identities of the officers.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 32-33)
In this installment of the column, “The U.S.M.A. Corps of Cadets,” McAfee explains that Cadet Gray and Army Blue are all part of the same history that dates back to the War of 1812. Illustrations include two cadets, W.R. Rowell in full gray dress uniform and Charles L. Fitzhugh dressed in the furlough uniform of blue.

Stragglers (pp. 34-38)
Featured images include 2^nd Lt. DeLafayette Chandler of the Pennsylvania Light Artillery, Cpl. Thomas M. Round of the 46^th New York Infantry, a Confederate officer wearing a uniform jacket with fur muffs attached to his cuffs, a Georgia soldier with a Colt Navy revolver tucked into his waist belt and Cpl. Richard M. Goshorn of the 34^th Indiana Infantry who is dressed in a Zouave-inspired uniform.

Captain Bob’s Caveat Emptorium, House of a Thousand Bargains by Harry Roach (p. 39)
In this column, readers are persuaded to believe that two photographs are portraits of Confederate and Union soldiers. In fact, the “Confederate” is a British soldier who served in the 2^nd Shropshire Rifle Volunteers. The Yankee is a corporal in the Salvation Army, circa 1870-1900.

Index to Civil War Regiments (pp. 40-45)

Passing in Review (p. 46)
Two publications are reviewed, Terrible Swift Sword, Union Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry, 1861-1865 (Stackpole Co.) by John P. Langellier and Warrior in Gray: General Robert Rodes of Lee’s Army (White Mane Books) by James K. Swisher.

Sutler’s Row (pp. 47-48)

The complete issue

Vol. X, No. 5
(32 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
A full-plate albumen photograph from the David Mark collection pictures two corporals of the Maryland Guard Battalion, John Eager Howard of the 1^st Infantry and the 1^st Cavalry, and Charles R. Thompson of the 1^st Cavalry.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor notes that this is the very first issue dedicated to a single state—Maryland Troops in the Confederate Army. It is also the third issue dedicated to one man’s collection. (Ronn Palm had the honor of being first in 1987 and Mike McAfee in 1988.)

Mail Call (p. 2)
The letters to the editor include a plea for “More sex!” This is a reference to the gallery Risque Business in the last issue. Another letter describes how someone is forging signatures on cartes de visite and selling them at Civil War shows.

Passing in Review (p. 3)
The issue features reviews of 3 publications, including Winfield Scott Hancock, A Soldier’s Life (Indiana University Press) by David M. Jordan; Cry Comanche (The Hill College Press) by Col. Harold B. Simpson and Gettysburg, videotape of the 1988 battle reenactment (Classic Videos).

Vis-à-vis: Dave Mark (p. 4)
An interview in a question and answer format explores the background and interests of the featured collector of this issue.

Maryland Troops in the Confederate Army (p. 5)
This introduction to the David Mark collection is an overview of Maryland’s participation in the Civil War, which includes a roster of all the Confederate units.

Maryland General Officers (pp. 6-8)
The officers include Brig. Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, Brig. Gen. John Henry Winder, Brig. Gen. George Hume “Maryland” Steuart, Brig. Gen. James Jay Archer, Brig. Gen. Arnold Elzey, Maj. Gen. Mansfield Lovell and Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman.

Maryland Naval Officers (pp. 9-11)
The officers include Adm. Franklin Buchanan, Cmdr. James Iredell Waddell, John W. Bennett, Comm. George N. Hollins Sr. and Rear Adm. Raphael Semmes.

Maryland Staff Officers (pp. 12-13)
The officers include Lt. Col. Osmun Latrobe, who served on the staffs of Joseph E. Johnston, David Jones and James Longstreet; Capt. McHenry Howard, who served on the staffs of Charles Winder, “Maryland” Steuert and George Washington Custis Lee; Col. William Norris, Chief of the Confederate Signal Corps and later Chief of the Secret Service Bureau; Maj. Frederick Gustavus Skinner of the 1^st Virginia Infantry, Lt. Col. Edward Murray of the 49^th Virginia Infantry, who also served as assistant adjutant general to Robert E. Lee and Maj. Henry Kyd Douglas, who served on the staffs of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, Edward Johnson and John B. Gordon.

Maryland Artillerymen (pp. 14-15)
The soldiers include Capt. Frederick M. Colston of the Army of Northern Virginia, Lt. Col. Llewellyn Griffith Hoxton of William J. Hardee’s Corps, Capt. William L. Ritter of the 3^rd Maryland Battery, Maj. James Breathed of J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry corps, Pvt. George Addison Cook of Dement’s Battery, 1^st Maryland Artillery, Capt. William Hunter Griffin of the 2^nd Maryland “Baltimore Light” Battery and Lt. Henry Clay Hewitt of Otey’s Battery.

The Maryland Guard Battalion (pp. 16-19)
Identified soldiers include Dewitt Clinton Rench, Charles P. Stewart, John Hudson Snowden, William H. Murray, McHenry Howard, Robert G. Harper Carroll and George P. Kane.

Maryland Infantrymen (pp. 20-22)
Identified soldiers include Capt. William Henry Murray of the 1^st and 2^nd infantries, Pvt. Alexander Murray of the 2^nd Infantry, Maj. William Worthington Goldsborough of the 2^nd Infantry, Sgt. Charles R. Favour of the 12^th and 13^th Virginia infantries, Lt. William Zollinger of the 1^st and 2^nd infantries, Capt. James Thomas Bussey of the 2^nd Infantry, Pvt. William H. Ryan of the 1^st Infantry and 2^nd Cavalry Battalion, Pvt. Robert Scott Young of the 8^th Virginia Infantry and Pvt. John Alexander Hayden of the 2^nd Infantry.

Maryland Cavalrymen (pp. 23-27)
Identified soldiers include Pvt. Thaddeus Clary of the 11^th Virginia Cavalry and McNeill’s Rangers; Pvt. John B. Williamson of McNeill’s Rangers and the 2^nd Cavalry Battalion; Capt. William I. Rasin of the 1^st Clary (he led the final cavalry charge at Appomattox); Lt. Col. Harry W. Gilmor of the 7^th Virginia Cavalry, 12^th Virginia Cavalry and 2^nd Cavalry; Lt. Col. Elijah Viers White of the 7^th Virginia Cavalry, White’s Rebels and the 35^th Virginia Cavalry Battalion; James L. Clark of the 1^st Infantry, 12^th Virginia Cavalry and 2^nd Cavalry; Capt. Jesse Brandenburg of the 2^nd Cavalry Battalion; Lt. Edward Beatty of the 1^st Cavalry; James W. Jenkins Jr. of the 1^st Cavalry; Capt. Nathan Chew Hobbs of the 1^st Virginia Cavalry, Pvt. Thomas P. Williams of the 1^st Cavalry; Pvt. Daniel Giraud Wright of the 1^st Infantry and Mosby’s guerillas; Cpl. Elijah Bishop of the 25^th Virginia Cavalry; Lt. William H.B. Dorsey of the 1^st Infantry and 1^st Cavalry and Capt. George Ridgeley Gaither of the 1^st Virginia Cavalry.

Stragglers (pp. 28-29)
Six images from the David Mark collection are unidentified Confederate soldiers who may have hailed from Maryland or served in Maryland military organizations.

Sutler’s Row (p. 32)

Back cover
A carte de visite from the David Mark collection pictures two Maryland Confederates, James McHenry Howard of the 1^st Infantry and Pelham’s Battery of Stuart’s Horse Artillery, and his brother David Ridgely Howard of the 2^nd Infantry.

The complete issue

Vol. X, No. 3
(32 pages)

Print edition: Visit our store to check availability
Digital edition: Visit JSTOR.org to purchase
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Inside

Cover image
The cover and back image of this current issue features the Marine Guard of the U.S.S. Essex taken in 1888. The “field musics” (drummer and bugler) and officer are included.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor notes that the resting place of Marie “French Mary” Tepe had been given a new headstone and G.A.R. marker. Articles in previous issues of Military Images in 1982 and 1983 prompted a renewed interest in this vivandiere and her story.

Mail Call (pp. 2-3)
The letters to the editor includes many accolades for the magazine as well as clarifications and additional information, including one reader who solved the “puzzle” of a belt buckle by turning the image upside down and reversing it to show an eagle. Some suggestions for future issues were also made.

Passing in Review (p. 4)
The issue features four different reviews of publications, beginning with B.P. Gallaway’s The Ragged Rebel, which is a biography of David Carey Nance of the Texas Cavalry, a common soldier who provides insight into lesser-known aspects of the Civil War. Next is Hood’s Texas Brigade: Tom Jones’ Military Sketchbook No. 1 by Tom Jones. He has produced pencil sketches of all known photographs of the unit, clearing up some of the “murky” details from the original images in his drawings. A total of 74 illustrations are included. The Saga of the Confederate Ram Arkansas: The Mississippi Campaign, 1862 by Tom Z. Parrish is the story of the CSS Arkansas did not review well, with the reviewer feeling that the details about how this partially completed vessel was initially created were lacking and additional information not connected to this event is given much detail. Finally, Civil War Relics of the Western Campaigns, 1861-1865 by Charles Harris focuses on the unique and rarer relics found in the area between the Appalachians and the Mississippi. The volume includes 1300 photos of great variety and should appeal to all levels of enthusiasts.

Blue Strings Revisited by Harry Roach (p. 5)
This short article with an accompanying hand-drawn sketch in a carte de visite is an addendum to the article on the Blue Springs, Tennessee images featured in the July-August issue of Military Images. The sketch was made by William H. Morgan of the 9^th Indiana, and shows where a number of the unit encampments were located in Grose’s Brigade. The original photographic image combined with this unusual carte de visite map provides greater insight into the location and condition of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th A.C. during the winter of 1863-64.

The Best of Gettysburg ’88 complied by Irena Zogoff (pp. 6-15)
A number of collectors at the 1988 Mason-Dixon Civil War Relic Show allowed Military Images to feature a total of 34 images in the current issues. A wide variety of scenes, both indoor and outdoor, are included, such as the crossing at the American side of the bridge at U.S.-Canadian border (complete with rules for crossing and penalties for non-compliance), a team of Union bakers with their hardtack wares, and a full band from Camp Douglas in Illinois. Individual portraits in various forms were also selected, such as a full-plate daguerreotype of a Confederate lieutenant wearing a Model 1851 forage cap, a cabinet card of Emma Lou Jassoy wearing a kepi, a quarter-plate ambrotype of two “Wide Awakes,” and several images of military pals.

From the Halls of Montezuma… to the Bistros of Gay Paris: A look at the U.S. Marines, 1866-1899 unit history by David M. Sullivan (pp. 16-20)
The stories of seven different international incidents which helped establish the United States as a global power and the Marine Corps as the first American force utilized in those conflicts are told, beginning with skirmishes in Formosa in 1867 and ending with Samoa in 1899. Intervention in Columbia in 1885 to protect the lives and property of Americans living there presaged the eventual uprising that led to independence from Columbia early in the 20th century. Other events in Mexico (1870), Korea (1871), and Egypt (1882) tell the story of a world that was still unsettled and grappling with the reach of the West towards the East. Perhaps the most unusual of the stories was in France in 1889 during the Paris Exposition when the Marines who were sent to protect the American contributions to the fair became of such interest that they themselves became part of the American exhibit by their precise drill that drew crowed and impressed European military observers, with each Marine being given a medal by the French.

Sgt. Joseph Camersac LeBleu of Company K, 10th Louisiana Infantry vignette by Michael Dan Jones (p.21)
The Confederate soldier with his slouch hat pinned on one side was born in the bayous of Louisiana, the son of a pirate associated with Jean Lafitte. He began the war with Company K, 10^th Louisiana Volunteers in July 1861, but after serving in several battles in Virginia such as Malvern Hill, he eventually reassigned himself and became part of the 7^th Louisiana Cavalry, fighting in the Red River campaign in 1864 and being paroled in Natchitoches in early June, 1865. Le Bleu served in many public offices in the Lake Charles area, eventually serving as a major in of a troop of cavalry he organized for the Spanish-American War in 1899.

The 1st South Carolina Rifles: An Album of Officers in Orr’s Regiment unit history by John Mills Bigham (pp. 23-27)
Although he did not serve as Colonel of his namesake regiment (he was elected to the Confederate State Senate in December 1861), Orr’s Regiment of Rifles held a storied service, including Gaines Mill, Fredericksburg (where their brigade general, Maxcy Gregg, was killed), and beyond to Appomattox. The 16 different images coming from a Charleston family’s photograph album are of officers from Orr’s Regiment, mostly from the beginning of the war. The execution of rank on the uniforms differed from most Confederate uniforms, gradually conforming to a more recognizable standard later on. A short biography of each officer is provided.

Uniforms and History: 22nd Regiment, National Guard, State of New York (p. 28)
Not only Confederates wore gray. The initial uniform of the “Union Grays” (home guard put together to protect New York City after the militia of the area was called to defend Washington in early 1861) was gray with a red collar and cuffs that were edged in white. Notably, they carried a two-banded Enfield rifle, and other unique uniform markings once they were designated as the 22nd Regiment. Seeing action at Harper’s Ferry against “Stonewall” Jackson in the Valley campaign of 1862 and again at Gettysburg with the VI Corps, the unit had adopted a blue frock coat with grey trousers, with a “22” on the cap front and the company letters were on the belt buckle plate.

Stragglers (pp. 29-31)
Rick Carlisle submitted two different images of the same well, each found in a different part of the U.S.; any readers with insight regarding the significance of the well are encouraged to reply. Other stragglers include a possible image of the “Mad Gasser” of Mattoon, Illinois, a carte de visite with images of 67 different Confederate generals, and a warning about fake dress uniform coats from the 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard from the 1920s; their gray uniforms appealed to many 150th anniversary Confederate reenactors in the 1960s and are now being passed off as those belonging to the 7th New York.