Author: MI Editor

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Vol. VIII, No. 1
(32 pages)

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Cover image
Second Lieutenant Kenyon Ashe Joyce from the 6th U.S. Cavalry is the subject of this image, taken in about 1900.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor announces this current issue as the “long-awaited all-cavalry issue.” It features a mix of biographies, unit histories, insignia, uniforms, and many items submitted by the readership. There was such a huge response, that another cavalry issue is in the works for 1986. Upcoming will be another issue on Zouaves and Chasseurs as well as a feature on National Guard uniforms from 1870-1900.

Mail Call (p. 3)
The readers of Military Images submitted a number of letters, ranging from the identification of a mystery Civil War monument from a previous “Stragglers” feature to a request for how to clean images from the early years of photography (with a comprehensive response). The discussion regarding faked ambrotypes and tintypes also continues.

Vignettes: Short Biographies of American Mounted Troops by Richard Rottenbury, Wendell W. Lang, Jr., Richard K. Tibbals, and John R. Sickles (pp. 4-6)
Starting with an image of five Confederates, four of which were from Company C, 8th Texas Cavalry, the pictorial includes the images and stories of these and six other Civil War cavalrymen. Some of them died during the Civil War, such as Sgt. Lamister Milan Parks, who died in Andersonville in August 1864, while others went on to other careers, such as Lt. Col. William R. Parnell of the 4th New York Cavalry, who went on to fight in the Indian Wars of the 1870s.

“Come On, You Wolverines!”: Custer’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade by Gregory J.W. Urwin (pp. 7-15)
The history of the Michigan Brigade is illustrated with the images of 16 members of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Michigan cavalry, including one of its most illustrious commander, General George Armstrong Custer. Combined with the 1st Michigan Cavalry and Light Battery M of the 2nd U.S. Artillery, when Custer took command, the Michiganders took soon took to the field against “Jeb” Stuart three miles east of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. Breaking Stuart’s lines with a head-first charge, Custer led the men of the 7th Michigan into the fray while units from the 5th and David Gregg’s 2nd Cavalry Division hit from the flanks. Days later, they attacked Heth’s units at Falling Waters during the Confederate retreat after Gettysburg, inflicting a great deal of damage. Other engagements are described in the article, which takes the Michigan Cavalry through fighting in the Civil War and beyond. They were sent directly after the Grand Review of the Army to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and into action in the Great Plains until their enlistments were through. A sidebar article describes the origins of the Custer Badge, which was a solid gold Maltese cross with a brigadier’s star, inscribed with Custer’s name, these were presented only upon Custer’s personal order, making them a very sought-after distinction among the Michigan brigade’s officers.

The Pawnee Scouts: Auxilliary Troops in the U.S. Cavalry, 1864-1877 by Thomas R. Buecker and R. Eli Paul (pp. 16-19)
Seven images from the Nebraska State Historical Society illustrate the story of Pawnee who assisted the U.S. Army in its fighting against several hostile Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe. Starting in 1864, uprisings in Indian Territory led the Army and the Pawnee, also targets of the Sioux, to join in putting down the uprisings. Eventually, these Pawnee Scouts were officially enlisted as soldiers beginning in 1866 under the command of Frank North, a civilian from the Pawnee Agency who simultaneously garnered military rank. Although provided with weaponry and uniforms like their white American counterparts, the Pawnee wore them as they desired inside the forts, but stripped to the bare minimum for recognition when about to engage in battle. Saddles and uniform boots were removed, and hats were often replaced with bandannas.

Boots and Saddles: A Survey of Images of the U.S. Cavalry from the Civil War to the Great War by Dennis Bender (pp. 20-29)
This pictorial article features 28 different images of the American cavalryman taken between 1861 and 1912. One quarter-plate ambrotype taken in 1861 features friends Alan G. Copenhaven of the 8th Virginia Cavalry, C.S.A. and Charles S. Venable, who was to eventually become an aide to Robert E. Lee. Images of the uniforms (Private Levi Scott, trumpeter of the 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment), insignia (a farrier wears a hammer and tongs within a horseshoe on his sleeve and a first sergeant with a rare star buckle), and weaponry of all types are shown. The troopers of the Spanish-American War era are depicted in full uniform and also in parade, seen with the all-black 10th Cavalry and a troop of “Rough Riders” in Philadelphia after the war. One page shows the cavalryman with his horse in various forms, from posing with a dog in the saddle, to the horse taking a defensive position on the ground for his rider to use for protection while firing, to taking jumps on a beach in the Philippines.

Passing in Review (pp. 30-31)                                                                                   This issue of Military Images features three publication reviews, beginning with The Spanish War: An American Epic, 1898 by G.J.A. O’Toole. The reviewer found it to be a useful work, that saw Americans joining together again after the Civil War – both Fitzhugh Lee and Joe Wheeler joined as commanders for the U.S. Army. The author looks at the domestic and international concerns of the time, especially the impact of a rising Germany into the international arena. Second is Unto This Hour by Tom Wicker, a novel of the Civil War that seems to be fraught with errors that those knowledgeable about the conflict will note easily, leaving the reviewer to not recommend the book for the readership? Finally, Sons of the Morning Star by Evan Connell, is reviewed and comes away with a much different review. Written about Custer in the Indian Wars, the novelist’s approach is solid and is factually based, giving the reader an accurate account of both sides of the conflict. It should satisfy both those knowledgeable about Custer and those who want to read a balanced view of the Plains Indians and their lifestyle as well.

Back Image
Lt. W.B. Brainerd of the Chicago “Black Hussars” in 1891 is featured astride his mount.

The complete issue

Vol. XXXII, No. 3
(60 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
A young infantry soldier fully prepared to march graces the cover of this issue. The image is a ruby glass ambrotoype from the featured collection of Civil War images owned by Matt Cranford.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
“The Scanner Light Is Always On” and Military Images will often be in attendance at Civil War and photography shows as well, following the precedent set by founding MI editor Harry Roach. Armed with a flatbed scanner and laptop computer, readers are urged to bring their own images to shows so they can be scanned and included in future issues. The magazine is also pursuing a more vibrant social media presence, providing images and education on Facebook, for example. Many of the images in the “Stragglers” section of MI are from these shows and other sources of media sharing.

Mail Call (p. 3)
Subscribers continue the discussion of whether images show photographer props or soldier property based on images from the Spring 2014 issue of Military Images. A letter provides a tentative identification of a Georgia infantry soldier. Another subscriber offers more information on the “Battle Shirt!” article, explaining how Maj. Gen. Buford’s statue at Gettysburg was based on the battle shirt he wore on the first day of fighting there.

Passing in Review (p. 4)
Lens on the Texas Frontier by Lawrence T. Jones III is reviewed. The publication includes early images from Texas beginning in 1843, and traces the development of the Lone Star State and its many different cultures.

Art of War: Fighting Men from the Collection of Matt Cranford (pp. 5-19)
Fourteen different images from the extensive collection of Matt Cranford are included in this article. Cranford describes some of the known histories behind many of the images, including one of his great-grandfather, but also explains why he was drawn to include them in his collection. He selects images that are aesthetically interesting, such as the cover image which includes a background that gives the illusion of the soldier being outdoors in nature, or the very tall and thin Confederate infantryman whose uniform evokes images of homespun. One image in the collection depicts two soldiers relaxing with their pipes, with one soldier wearing a knit cardigan. The collection also includes a few group images that give a sense of what camp life might have been like, as well as more formal poses that illustrate standard equipment as well as demonstrating a cavalry guard position.

Antebellum Warriors (pp. 21-22)
This article presents two different images, beginning with a ninth-plate daguerreotype featuring a newly graduated West Point cadet wearing his uniform as a second lieutenant of engineers in about 1854. A smaller image reveals the antebellum image to be that of the future Union Maj. Gen. James MacPherson, who was killed during the Battle of Atlanta in 1864. A second antebellum image is from a half-plate daguerreotype of a much older man wearing a uniform believed to be from the Ringgold Light Artillery, formed as a volunteer militia in 1849 by Pennsylvania veterans of the Mexican War. The ornate uniform, which includes a Dragoon dress hat with horse hair plume, is an example of a full dress uniform of the era.

Homeland Security: Civil War Style by Philip Katcher (pp. 23-26)
Readers of MI generally expect to find images of soldiers, but this interesting article traces the expansion of uniformed police forces in the North during the Civil War. The author describes the wide range of challenges that emerged while fighting a civil war with only a few major cities having police organized in a way that we would recognize today. New York City police were expected to assist the War Department in the surveillance and apprehension of spies, halting arms transfers, and capturing bounty jumpers. Police were also expected to deal with minor crimes that resulted from the war, such as juvenile delinquency and petty crimes that came from minors who were unsupervised by effectively single mothers. Through a collection of 13 images, the article highlights the different uniforms worn by police departments during the Civil War era.

In Lambent Glory: A Pennsylvania Private Fights His Last Battle by Scott Valentine (pp. 28-29)
A carte de visite of Pvt. Thomas G. Grier, 51^st Pennsylvania Infantry, inspired this article, which examines the impact of yellow fever on the New Berne, North Carolina area in 1864. Pvt. Grier lost his life assisting both military and civilian victims during an outbreak of the disease.

Master’s Mates: A Primer by Ron Field (pp. 30-34)
The massive expansion of the Federal navy during the Civil War required a similar expansion of various crew members. This article explores the role of the master’s mate, focusing on the basic requirements to be considered for the role, the expectations of a master’s mate, and how the navy went about finding qualified candidates as the need for these skilled crew members grew. The article uses six carte de visite images to illustrate the discussion of what the master’s mate uniform consisted of, each with a considerable description of the uniform and a biography when possible.

Mobile Bay & Havana Harbor: A Newly Discovered Tintype of Battleship Maine Commander Charles D. Sigsbee When He Was A Civil War Ensign by Brooke Hollingsworth (pp. 35-36)
This article highlights the discovery of a new image of Capt. Charles D. Sigsbee, the commander of the battleship Maine, the destruction of which precipitated the Spanish-American War in 1898. The new image, showing a relaxed ensign leaning against a prop with one hand in his pocket, is a tintype of carte de visite size, found attached to a government document that included Sigsbee’s name and dates to sometime after Sigsbee’s 1863 graduation from the Naval Academy. Sigsbee served during the Battle of Mobile and the 1864 and 1865 assaults on Fort Fisher during the Civil War, and continued his naval career until retirement in 1907. The article also includes a photograph taken from an 8×10” negative with Sigsbee and his staff officers aboard the Texas, the command he was given after the destruction of the Maine.

Uniforms & History: Civil War Corps Badges Are Symbols of Service and Sacrifice by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 37-40)
The article outlines the origin and use of corps badges by the Union Army of the Potomac. Originally devised by Maj. Gen. Philip Kearney to allow him to clearly identify the officers under his command of the Third Division, the practice was expanded by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker throughout the Army of the Potomac. Eventually, the corps badge would go from a helpful way for commanders to identify their soldiers to becoming “marks of esprit de corps” that unified troops in all Union army commands. The trefoil, round disc, Greek cross, Maltese cross, and other corps badges are shown in the 11 images that accompany the article. Each image has an accompanying description of how the soldier wore his corps badge on his uniform.

Stragglers (pp. 41-56)
A wide variety of 25 different images is presented, some of which include poignant stories or unusual scenes. A pair of images, including a previously unknown carte de visite, illustrates the story of Hettie Clary Stone and her father, Brig. Gen. Charles Pomeroy Stone. A half-plate tintype from 1861 tells the story of the Taylor brothers from McLennan County, Texas, who were shortly to leave for service in the Confederate army. A carte de visite image features five soldiers of the 63rd New York Infantry with one civilian; their flags identify them as part of an Irish Brigade from the Army of the Potomac. Animals appear in a number of images, to include a cat with a Federal second lieutenant, two cavalry troopers with their mounts, and one carte de visite with a Union cavalryman leading a lady riding sidesaddle. Perhaps the most unusual image of this collection is most likely from 1898; a close-up detail from the photograph is accompanied by a lengthy description of a bicycle messenger who appears with the military unit.

The Last Shot (p. 60)
A Federal artillery soldier holds a small, uncertain girl on his lap. Most likely his daughter, the sixth-plate ambrotype asks the viewer to imagine the relationship between the toddler and the soldier and the story behind the image.

The complete issue

Vol. VI, No. 6
(32 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
A young sharpshooter graces the cover of this issue of Military Images.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
A change in computer systems has led to a change in subscription codes for renewal. A listing of old and new codes is provided to allow subscribers to understand when to renew. The editor is also pleased to note that a new subscriber in Hong Kong means that Military Images has readers on all continents. He warns also that fake tintypes and cartes de visite are still showing up, and asks for readers to let the magazine know so readers are aware of who is selling them. More material from the Confederate states is also coming in, meaning more articles and vignettes from the South.

Mail Call (pp. 3-4)
The letters to the editor include a lengthy response from a reenactment group in Bristol, U.K., requesting information on the uniforms and flags of the Irish Brigade. Other notices include the offer of a research stipend, the theft of an 1852 pattern Union naval officer’s sword from Kennesaw, Georgia, and details on some of the fake images being sold by dealers.

Passing in Review (p. 5)
Three volumes are presented for review in this issues. First is Civil War Monitor, a publication that provides abstracts and an index of articles. This is a bimonthly publication edited by Joseph L. Harsh of George Mason University, and may be a helpful resource for serious researchers. Second is Army Uniforms of World War I by Andrew Mollo, which is a handbook complete with color plates and descriptions of uniforms from 16 nations engaged in World War I. The only units missing are colonial troops and volunteer organizations. Third is Militaria Magazine, a bimonthly publication in French and emphasizes World War II. The images are of high quality, and would be of interest to those readers with an interest in that era of conflict.

Georgians in Gray: A Series of Vignettes by Keith Bohannon (pp. 6-13)
Ten different images are featured in this pictorial article. Each image tells a story of a Georgia soldier, such as the three Chitwood brothers who enlisted in the “Bartow County Yankee Killers” which became Company A of the 23rd Georgia Infantry. The vignette about Pvt. William C. Bradley includes the text of a letter written home in April 1862, describing his experience early on at Yorktown, Virginia. Each story illustrates a different experience of these soldiers from Georgia.

The Saucy Battery: History of the 10th Massachusetts Light Artillery by Philip Katcher (pp. 14-15)
Led by Captain J. Henry Sleeper, the article describes the service of the 10th Massachusetts Light Artillery from its arrival in Washington for training in October 1862. Having missed the large battles at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg while chasing after John S. Mosby’s rangers from their post across the Potomac at Edward’s Ford, the unit was finally on the move in time for Auburn, Virginia in October. Moved into the II Corps under Winfield Hancock when the III Corps disbanded, they 10th was able to keep its old corps badges as it crossed the Rapidan River in early May 1864. They fought well in the Wilderness at the Battle of Cold Harbor, and Capt. Sleeper was mentioned in the New York Evening Post for his leadership there; the article also noted the 10th was known as the “saucy battery” in the II Corps. They remained in action until Appomattox, and took part in the Grand Review of the Army.

The Blue and Gray by Albert W. Haarmann (pp. 16-23)
Subtitled “… and the Green and the Black and the Red, etc.” this survey of newspapers announcing the arrivals of Union volunteer troops in Washington, D.C. Seventeen photographs of these uniforms are included to illustrate the many units which arrived between April and July of 1861. It is interesting to note how many volunteer regiments arrived wearing gray, such as all six of the Maine units that arrived at that time.

The Excelsior Banner by Randy Beck (p. 24)
Louisville, Kentucky was the site of a drill competition between the regiments of the 4th Division, 15th Army Corps as they waited for the end of their service in June 1865. The regiments of each of the three brigades would compete with one another, with the winners of each brigade competition vying to win a $300 silk banner. Colonel William Hanna of the 50th Illinois in the Third Brigade cancelled all leave and continually drilled his men, eventually meeting the 7th Iowa (1st Brigade) and the 63rd Illinois (2nd Brigade) for the final competition. Named “The Excelsior” banner after the competition, Col. Hanna returned home with the banner and had the carte de visite featured in the article taken in Quincy, Illinois.

The 13th Shot: Tragedy Aboard the U.S.S. Iowa by William Christen (pp.25-17)
Known for having fired the initial shots at Spanish vessels during the Spanish American War in 1898, the U.S.S. Iowa was taking part in targeting drill off the coast of Pensacola, Florida on April 9, 1903 when an unexpected tragedy struck. During the firing of the 13th shot that morning, the barrel of the port 12-inch gun sheared off, crashing through the deck, and killing three sailors three decks below. A few images of the Iowa are included with the article, but others are requested by the author.

Sergeant Andrew R. Denton: Vignette of the 43rd Tennessee, C.S.A. by Terri N. McGinnis (p. 28)
The couple featured with this article, Sgt. Denton and his bride, Martha, were wed on January 4, 1862, shortly after his enlistment in Company G of the 43rd Tennessee. He was elected to First Sergeant in May of 1862, and took part in the fighting around Vicksburg in 1863. It was on June 22, 1863 that Denton was wounded, dying of blood poisoning a few days later. His only child was born four and a half months later.

Stragglers (pp. 29-30)
Space allows only one image in the “Stragglers” feature in this issue. The antebellum image shows an unidentified group of men probably belonging to a target club. These were civilian clubs similar to the German Schutzenverien, which wore uniforms and practiced drill despite the fact that they were not associated with official militia. Although these groups existed after the Civil War, they were more like social clubs, rather than focusing on marksmanship.

Back Image
The American cruiser, U.S.S. Olympia, Admiral Dewey’s flagship, in harbor, Venice, Italy.

The complete issue

Vol. VI, No. 5
(32 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
The image that is featured on both the back and cover of the current issue is of San Francisco Bay, taken about 1897 from the Bay Bridge area. The mast-less ship is the Civil War era Camanche; her history is described in more detail on page 29.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor announces a change in staff, with Phil Katcher taking over from Bob Fulmer as Book Review Editor. A list of features planned for future issues is also included.

Mail Call (pp. 3-4)
A few interesting items are included, including an additional opinion on the color of the cuffs of the 114th Pennsylvania Zouaves, a question about the possible origin of “light-colored blobs” on an ambrotype, and another story about “Those Funny Looking Shoes” on their way towards Gettysburg. Two letters also remark on the warning by the Editor about fake reproductions, which had been found by readers in Indiana and Georgia.

Passing in Review (p. 5)
Three publications are considered for review in this issue of Military Images. The first is The Confederate Field Manual which is a reprint of the 1862 The Field Manual for the use of Officers on Ordnance Duty. With the addition of modern photographs, the volume is of interest for many, from historians to reenactors to modelers. Next is the pamphlet Why Brice’s Crossroads? by Kevin Duke, which appears to be a generalized account of the battle, possibly geared towards the battlefield souvenir market. Last is Chattanooga: A Death Grip on the Confederacy by James Lee McDonough. The reviewer notes that the author tackles many misconceptions about the campaign in clear, straightforward text, making this a highly suggested work for those interested in this aspect of the Civil War.

John Cassidy, 69th Pennsylvania by Jack McCormack (pp. 6-7)
This short vignette follows the service of Corporal John Cassidy of Philadelphia. While in winter quarters at Camp Observation near Poolesville, Maryland, the corporal was given a copy of the Manual of the Christian Soldier, a prayer book used by Catholics. The presentation of the book was commemorated on the flyleaf. Apparently, the book was lost by Cassidy during the fighting at Antietam, as the book was subsequently inscribed as such by Wm. G. Schief, who somehow got the volume back to its original owner. An additional inscription by a Virginia soldier, Michael Shannon, adds mystery to its travels, as the prayer book and the image of Corporal Cassidy were found on him after he was wounded fatally at Gettysburg. The missal shows the track of a bullet he took at the stone wall, defending against the Confederates, on July 3, 1863.

54th Virginia Infantry: a dual vignette by Keith Bohannon and Gregory Starbuck (pp. 8-9)
Two images, one of three of the four Hornbarger brothers and one of Private Uriah Crawford, tell the story of the 54th Virginia Infantry. The 54th was not part of the Army of Northern Virginia and saw most of its action in Tennessee, fighting around Preston and at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, also defending against Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. Crawford was captured near Kennesaw and was eventually exchanged in March 1865, being at home on leave when the war ended. The Hornbarger brothers came through the war to all return home, all having served in Virginia’s 54th.

Images of Romanians in the Civil War by Adrian-Silvan Ionescu (pp. 10-11)
Many men of foreign origin fought or observed the American Civil War in many capacities. The author contributes the images and short biographies of four men from Romania who contributed their own efforts in the American conflict. George Pomut was a refugee from the Revolution of 1848 who had settled in Iowa and joined the 15th Iowa Volunteers at the start of the war, eventually ending the war as a brevet brigadier general. Nicolae Dunca took part in Garibaldi’s Italian army, joining the Union Army in 1861 and fighting at Bull Run; he became an aide to Gen. Fremont and was killed in action in 1862. Eugen Ghika-Comanesti was in a cavalry regiment under Gen. Fremont and was wounded in the same action at Cross Key that killed Dunca. He became a brevet captain in the 5th Regiment of Colored Troops before resigning and returning to Romania in 1863. Emanoil Boteanu was an envoy of Prince Alexandru Iaon I and attached to Gen. George Mead’s staff in early 1865; his image was taken by Alexander Gardner and shows a mix of Romanian undress uniform with American additions.

The Stockton Blues: A California Militia Company, 1856-1861 by John P. Langellier (p. 13)
Two images of the Stockton Blues are featured with a short description of the early origins of the company. One image features five enlisted soldiers with their full uniforms, including shako with pompon. The other is of Patrick Edward Conner, who was the commander of the unit, with his young son. Conner had fought in the Seminole Wars and raised the 3rd California Volunteer Regiment at the outset of the Civil War.

Lt. Edward Cantey Stockton: Vignette by David M. Sullivan (pp. 14-15)
The author brings the readers the story of Edward Cantey Stockton, whose family exemplified the maxim that the Civil War was one of “the house divided against itself.” Brought up in a New Jersey family, his mother was from a well-known South Carolina family and was cousin to Mary Boykin Chestnut. Edward Stockton eventually entered the United States Navy, and was on the U.S.S. Plymouth with Commodore Matthew C. Perry when he entered Tokyo Bay in 1853; his uniform from that voyage is pictured as part of the article. He married in 1857, and is shown in an image with his bride. A series of unfortunate events with “demon rum” would eventually end his naval career with a court martial in 1858. Upon the advent of the Civil War, Stockton was drawn to support the Confederacy and joined the South Carolina State Navy. Upon that unit’s disbanding, Stockton was offered a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant of Confederate States Marines, which was not confirmed and was terminated at the end of September 1861. Following a brief stint as a Captain in the 21st South Carolina Volunteers, he left the CSA upon receipt of an offer as Acting Master in the Confederate States Navy, which he accepted in April 1862. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1863, and is the only known man to have served in all three branches of Confederate military service.

Gainesville: The Iron Brigade’s First Fight by Mark Jordan (pp. 16-25)
Seventeen images and one battlemap illustrate this excerpt taken from the author’s upcoming biography of General John Gibbons, who led the “Iron Brigade” in this fight against Jackson’s “Stonewall Brigade” under the command of Maj. Gen. William B. Taliaferro. Fought between Groveton and Gainesville on the Brawner farm in late August 1862, the article describes the movement of both Federal and Confederate troops in this battle that saw the significant loss of officers and men on both sides.

Photos Sought (pp. 26-28)
A listing of images being sought by member readers is premiered, organized by state then branch of service. Other non-Civil War requests are also included at the end of the listing.

Stragglers (pp. 29-31)
This feature begins with a more detailed description of the Camanche as it appears on the cover of the issue and its service during and after the Civil War. Other images include a pair of ninth-plate ambrotypes of a militia or Confederate clergyman, one with the man asleep and the other with him looking towards heaven. A brass cockade for the 1876 centennial is shown in close-up and in an image of E.B. Ball; the cockade is “made in the style of the 1792-1810 leather fan cockade” but with embellishments made for the centennial. Also included is the hat and image of Lt. Henry M. Brewster of the 57th New York Infantry; wounded at Fredericksburg, he was in command of the bridge used by John Wilkes Booth to escape following his assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The complete issue

Vol. VI, No. 4
(32 pages)

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Cover image
The cover image for this special issue features two couples, however not all of the individuals are identified. Sgt. Henry Stephens of the 45th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry stands on the right behind Ann M. Shenk.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor warns the readership about the arrival of fake tintypes created by Mr. Walter Ward of West Alexandria, Ohio. While he does not market his reproductions as originals, many unknowing purchasers may buy them from other sellers as originals. The size of a carte de visite, the editor outlines some identifying features of these fakes.

Mail Call (p. 2)
Letters to the Editor include further information regarding articles on the 79th New York Highlanders, photographs of Zouaves, and “French Mary” Tepe. One reader had a question about markings on a weapon, which the Editor asked the readers to provide assistance.

The Girl I Left Behind Me (p. 3)
This short introductory article provides some insight into this special issue that commemorates the wives and sweethearts of soldiers in the 19th century. Women of this era were often relegated to roles played behind the scenes of history, with notable women usually taking on unusual roles. The images in this issue of Military Images feature the often unidentified women of this era with the military men in their lives.

Northern Images (pp. 4-17)
Ending with an unusual cabinet photograph probably from the 1880s that features a line of chorus girls dressed in Hussar “uniforms,” the 46 other images submitted by a variety of collectors included in this pictorial show Union couples and families from a wide range of Northern society. Some appear to be well-to-do, with the women wearing fashionable dresses, while others wear the home-spun of the less affluent. A few of the images are of fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, and family images with babies or children. Most of the individuals are not identified, leaving the viewers to wonder about the stories behind the faces.

Southern Images (pp. 19-24)
The seven Confederate images from the collection of Larry Willford are much like those of their Federal counterparts. Most are unidentified, and show a range of economic backgrounds. The first images if of a soldier with ladies who might be his sisters, while the last is of a soldier who is seen with a man who might be his civilian brother and their sister. As with the images in between, the stories are lost but the images remain to give us the real faces of the Civil War.

Post-Civil War Images (pp. 25-31)
This collection of ten images which range from the early 1870s up to the romantic photographs of a Spanish-American War soldier kissing his sweetheart provide more group images. Picnics in Arizona Territory and boating in Montana Territory show some of the relaxation that soldiers and their ladies could pursue in the latter part of the 19th century. There are a few couples images, and some that include children, like Lt. James S. Rogers and son reading a picture book together. Ending with a group photograph of the G.A.R. Ladies Drill Corps of Toledo, Ohio, this pictorial gives the sense of a more relaxed and less formal time.

Back Image
A ninth-plate ambrotype image of an unidentified soldier and his lady is presented.

The complete issue

Vol. VI, No. 3
(32 pages)

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Cover image
The Fourth of July parade in Steubenville, Ohio included veterans of the G.A.R. The cabinet card photograph on the cover of this issue was taken about 1885.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor provides additional comment on the new “Photos Sought” feature. While it appears to be very popular with readers, there were some issues that required clarification and therefore a necessity to move the due date for entries back to January 1, 1985.

Mail Call (p. 2)
A wide variety of letters are given responses by the editor: a reader asks for a distinction between battle and parade dress uniforms, the descendent of a “Vignette” subject provides additional information on his great-grand-uncle, a historian makes some particular corrections to an article, and a reader gives further information about some unique footwear. The winner of the “Name That General” contest is announced as being Brian Pohanka, with a score of 134 out of 144. Some readers had great fun with the contest, although the feeling was not entirely universal.

Passing in Review (p. 3)
Regulations and Notes for the Uniform of the Army of the United States, 1917 in Parts 1 and 2 by Jacques Noel Jacobsen are reviewed. Continuing in a series of reprinted regulations, these two parts are considered to be important resources for the “serious student of the Great War period.” Part 1 describes the uniform regulations for officers, which were still produced by tailors, requiring more detail than the items included in Part 2, which covers the regulations for enlisted personnel, which were produced under government contract. A projected Part 3 will cover the huge numbers of changes to the regulations associated with this period.

Fifteen Minutes to Live: Co. E, 33rd Illinois Infantry at Vicksburg by Richard Tibbals and Randy Beck (pp. 4-7)
May 22, 1863 was the date of General U.S. Grant’s grand assault on the Confederate fortifications surrounding Vicksburg, and the men of the 33rd Illinois were waiting for the time for their assault – 10:00 a.m. – to arrive. With uniform jackets off due to the sultry Mississippi air, the men under the direction of Captain Isaac H. Elliott moved forward, and all but one of the men serving in Company E would ended up dead or wounded. The article gives the individual stories of many of the Illinoisans who fought in this Union debacle, and has images of seven of them, including two brothers who lost their lives as a result of the fighting that day.

Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye!: A Seires of Vignettes on the Grim Visage of War by Ronn Palm, John R. Sickles, William Gladstone, Keith Bohannon, Tom Gordon, Jr,. Howard W. Strawbridge, Wendell W. Lang (pp. 8-15)
The authors each bring the readers the image and story of a soldier who was either severely wounded or lost his life during the Civil War, some also including their words home. They include Sgt. Richard A. Charles (Co. C., 16th Pa. Cavalry), Lt. William W. Geety (Co. H, 47th Pa. Inf.), Sgt. Thomas Plunkett (Co. E, 21st Mass.), Pvt. Reuben H. Nations (Co. I, 12th La. Inf.), Lt. Jacob T. Zug (Co. H, 7th Pa. Reserves), Sgt. Preston M. Guild (Co. K, 57th Pa. Inf.), Sgt. Albert W. Corson (Co. D, 9th N.H.), and two unidentified veterans who had their images taken on a carte de visite at “Cady’s, Cobleskill, N.Y.”

The Great Pivot: Vermonters vs. Virginians at Gettysburg by Blake A. Magner (pp. 16-22)
Thirteen photographic images of the men of Vermont illustrate the story of the men who turned back Pickett’s Charge on the last day of fighting at Gettysburg. The 2nd Vermont brigade, composed of the 12th through 16th regiments under the command of General George J. Stannard had not yet seen any fighting, spending most of their nine-month enlistment in the fortifications surrounding Washington. They were sent into Virginia as the rear guard of Major Gen. John Reynolds’ First Corps and made their way across Northern Virginia, through Maryland, and into Pennsylvania. The article describes the hectic quick move that the brigade had to make on July 1, being ordered not even to break ranks for water. The movements of the different regiments on July 2 are covered as well, with written accounts by Col. Wheelock Veazey, 16th Vermont, describing what that night and next morning were like. Many of his men slept through the artillery barrage that signaled the start of the actions on July 3, indeed he himself admitted that the previous days and 24 hours without any sleep made him consider sleeping too. It was while talking with Gen. Stannard that General Winfield S. Hancock was wounded in the groin. The Vermonters ended up attacking late support for Pickett’s brigades who came up behind them, Wilcox’s Alabamians and Perry’s Floridians, pivoting to hit the Confederates with fire and then capturing them with a full run. It was for this movement that Col. Veazey was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1891.

Those Funny Looking Shoes: Unusual Footwear in the Civil War by Chris Nelson (p. 23)
Two images of Federal officers wearing “sporting” shoes made of light colored canvas with leather answers the question raised in the “Stragglers” section of the previous issue of Military Images: What are they wearing? It was a non-regulation shoe that was popular among hunters, yachtsmen, and (as was noted in one of the letters to the editor on page 2) croquet players. The author provides a short history of this shoe and its military application later in history, such as the combat boot worn by soldiers in Vietnam.

The Fort McHenry Salute by John H. McGarry III (pp. 24-25)
The end of the Civil War saw the five Rodman guns that were to be installed to protect the port at Baltimore still not in place, although they would be by the end of 1865. They remained there as a part of coastal defense and in 1903, Baltimore photographer Henry F. Rinn requested permission to photograph the huge 15” guns as they performed the salute for that year’s Fourth of July celebrations. The three images presented with the article show the guns in action, the largest muzzle-loaded artillery guns of the 19^th century.

Sgt. Edward Ward: Pioneer Army Aviator by Charles Worman (pp. 26-27)
One might think that this article would be about airplanes, but they only play a small part in this story. Sgt. Ward was at one point in aviation history the entire enlisted component of the U.S. army Aeronautical Division within the U.S. Signal Corps. While admitting later in life that he was not particularly fond of flight, he was an integral part of the balloon ground crew, with which he is shown in an image taken in 1907. Ward’s career took him in and out of various aspects of balloon service until his retirement in 1930.

Stragglers (pp. 28-31)
The first of three images for this issue’s “Stragglers” feature is of the 21st U.S. Infantry Regimental band at the Golden Spike ceremony marking the meeting of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. A second image of C Troop, 6th Cavalry taken at Camp Grant, Arizona in the early 1880s shows a “veritable compendium of campaign dress in a period of transition.” Lastly, a photo postcard is shared of the Maine on washday, showing laundry out to dry on the ship’s rigging.

Back Image
The final image for this issue is of an unknown Yankee cavalryman. The sixth-plate tintype shows he is more than adequately armed for the work.