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Live From Charleston!

02One of the most-repeated responses from last summer’s subscriber survey was to have Military Images represented at Civil War shows. This request came from long-time subscribers who remember the days when founding editor Harry Roach set up a table, gave away copies of the magazine, and photographed images from dealers and attendees.

Now, Military Images is back! This weekend, Anne and I attended the Low Country Civil War Show in Charleston, S.C. Following Harry’s lead, we gave away complimentary copies of the latest issue, and set up a scanner to make high-resolution scans of selected images.

We had a wonderful time. The show provided us an opportunity to meet up and thank current subscribers, to welcome returning and new subscribers, and to let everyone know that MI’s mission to showcase, interpret and preserve historic photographs of soldiers and sailors is as important as ever.

01The support we received throughout was wonderful! Cliff Krainik and George Whiteley shared their thoughts and ideas abut the editorial direction of the magazine. Steve Sylvia of North South Trader’s Civil War magazine was super supportive and generously offered his help. Had productive chats with Cary Delery, Richard Ferry and a large group of others.

A heartfelt hanks to each and everyone I met for your enthusiasm and generosity. It fueled my desire to breathe new life into Military Images. The biggest thanks are reserved for Anne, who spent the majority of the show strolling up and down the aisles meeting and greeting folks on both sides of the table. She was absolutely fantastic, and MI is much better for her presence.

Look for Military Images at the DC Photo Show on March 16.

Civil War Trust Interview

coddington-cavalrymen-350Ina Dixon of the Civil War Trust contacted me a couple weeks ago, and asked me to share my perspectives about Military Images magazine and its role in historic photography. An excerpt:

Over time, I’ve come to understand and appreciate that these rare soldier portraits humanize the terrible conflict that raged on our soil during the four bloodiest and most violent years in our nation’s history. When I see these photos, which were personal, intimate objects shared with family, friends and comrades at a time of war, I am reminded of these soldiers’ courage, and my own responsibilities as an American and a world citizen.

It is only in the last few decades, beginning with the centennial of the war in the 1960s, that these old photographic portraits have begun to move from the realm of vernacular photography to become part of the nation’s visual record. Harry Roach, who founded MI in 1979, was in the forefront of those who realized the growing importance of these photographs.

Read the full interview.

I am thrilled to have had the opportunity, and deeply grateful to Ina and the rest of the staff of CWT for the great work they do in preservation and education.

Finding Aid: September/October 2005

2005-v27-02-xxvii

The complete issue

Vol. XXVII, No. 2
(40 pages)


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Inside

Cover image
A unique ninth-plate ambrotype from the David W. Vaughan collection is a Confederate kepi embellished with a small First National pattern flag, ribbon and dogwood flower. The image was likely to have been made in April 1861.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor provides a moving tribute to Brian Pohanka, “A man of boundless energy and courage who dedicated his all-to-shirt life to the preservation of Civil War battlefields and in the discipline of historical scholarship. Indeed, Brian was one of the finest military historians of our time, a man whose body of work included the authorship of many books, countless magazine article and extensive film work. But his influence on the historical community was even greater than the sum of his work, for he was a true inspiration and mentor to countless men and women, whose passion, like his, was history.” The editor also singles out a story in the current issue about an image of the 17th Michigan Infantry. He points out that Military Images does not agree with the author Charles Joyce’s Aug. 3, 1865, dating of the image, but agreed to publish it on the basis of “its historical merits alone.”

Passing in Review (pp. 3-4)
Two books are mentioned: Generals In Bronze: Interviewing the Commanders of the Civil War (Belle Grove Publishing Company) by William B. Styple and Collecting the Confederacy: Artifacts and Antiques from the War Between the States (Savas Beatie) by Shannon Pritchard.

Last Muster for the “Stonewall Regiment;” The Seventeenth Michigan Infantry Returns To The Wolverine State, Summer 1865 by Charles T. Joyce (pp. 5-14)
The author introduces a newly discovered image of the Michiganders in camp as “singularly deceptive. To even the expert eye, it reveals a war-hardened fragment of a Union infantry regiment drawn up in a weedy field by company in ‘column of divisions.’” What follows is a detailed analysis of the regiment and its key personnel that support the theory that the image was produced on Aug. 3, 1865, on the shores of Grass Lake, Mich. Supporting images include a view of the officers of the 17th in camp in 1865 from the State Archives of Michigan and portraits of Col. William H. Withington, Lt. Col. Frederick W. Swift, Maj. Thomas Mathews, Capt. Christian Rath, Capt. Joseph A. Sudborough, Capt. George Goodsell, Lt. and Adjutant Samuel Sizer, Lt. John S. Maltman, Lt. William Leanhouts, QM. Sgt. John M. Lawrence, Corp. Frank Wright and photographer Corydon Randall.

A Tribute to Brian Pohanka (pp. 15-21)
Brian Caldwell Pohanka (1955-2005) is remembered by numerous colleagues and friends associated with him over the course of his eventful life.

The Custer Cyclorama, Revisited by Charles G. Markantes (pp. 22-31)
Subtitled “The subject of a 1983 article in Military Images, the story of the long-lost Custer Cyclorama is explored again,” the author begins by noting that cyclorama paintings were 19th century versions of virtual reality. He continues on to share the history of the Custer Cyclorama, including surviving images of the painting with original 1983 captions by the late Brian Pohanka.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 32-33)
In “The Third Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, 1864-1865,” McAfee notes that personal accounts by veterans of the Civil War can be extremely valuable to the student of history, but Four Years Campaigning in the Army of the Potomac by color sergeant D.G. Crotty of the 3rd is unfortunately not a useful reference. McAfee details why the volume raises more questions than it answers, and illustrates his text with a tintype of the color guard of the 3rd and a carte de visite of Anna Etheridge, a nurse who found a home with the boys of the regiment.

The Confederate Soldier (p. 34)
A sixth-plate tintype from the David W. Vaughan collection pictures Pvt. Charles Holtzclaw, who served in Company H of the 6th Virginia Cavalry.

Henley Fugate 63rd Tennessee Infantry C.S.A. by John Sickles (p. 35)
Fugate suffered the loss of an arm at Chickamauga after he was struck by a Union cannon shot. A carte de visite of Fugate and his second wife, likely taken in the 1870s or 1880s, accompanies the narrative.

A Palmetto Artillerist and the Columbia Flying Artillery by John Mills Bigham (pp. 36-37)
John W. Self served as second lieutenant of Waties’ Battery B, Palmetto Battalion of Light Artillery, which was first known as the Columbia Artillery and Columbia Flying Artillery. Details of his military service and a brief history of this artillery organization are included.

Stragglers (p. 38)
Three images include a Union soldier with a Sharps rifle, a young Yank with a Bowie knife and a Colt pocket revolver and an unidentified Confederate soldier wearing color shoulder straps.

Sutler’s Row (p. 39)

The Last Shot (p. 40)
A carte de visite from the Chris Nelson collection pictures two Kentucky National Guardsmen portraying Confederates.

Finding Aid: July/Aug. 2005

2005-v27-01-xxvii

The complete issue

Vol. XXVII, No. 1
(48 pages)


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Inside

Cover image
A sixth-plate ferrotype from the Brad L. Pruden collection is a portrait of a member of the Tyler Guard, which became Company G of the 7th Ohio Infantry. The soldier sits on a packing crate labeled “Camp Dennison.”

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk and Mail Call (p. 2)
The editor introduces “a unique view of the great State of Ohio in the Civil War” through representative examples of the 300,000 volunteers who served from the Buckeye State.

Through The Camera’s Eye: Part One, Ohio Soldiers 1861 by Larry M. Strayer and Brad L. Pruden (pp. 5-13)
The authors document the varied uniforms worn by Ohioans in 1861. A total of 22 period images are showcased. Identified soldiers include William S. Wickham of the 8th Infantry, Frank Bell of the 18th Infantry, the field officers of the 1st and 2nd infantries in late April 1861, a squad of five soldiers who served in Company K of the 11th Infantry, George L. Waterman of the 1st Infantry, Oscar Ladley of the 16th Infantry, Joseph Wright of the 20th Infantry, Company E of the 5th Infantry in June 1861, Joel C. Tracy of the 3rd Ohio Infantry, Asbury Oldroyd of the 16th Infantry, officers of the 14th Infantry about the summer of 1862, Lancelot L. Scott of the 18th Infantry, Homer Yates of the 1st Light Artillery and a drummer believed to be William V. Haines of the 49th Infantry.

Through The Camera’s Eye: Part Two, Ohio Soldiers 1862-1864 by Larry M. Strayer and Brad L. Pruden (pp. 14-22)
The authors document the evolution to standardized uniforms and equipment in the second wave of enlistments through the “veteran’s craze” of 1864. A total of 19 period images are showcased. Identified soldiers include Lycurgus Bishop of the 1st Light Artillery, four men from Company C of the 9th Infantry, members of the Pearl Street Rifles of the Cincinnati Home Guard about 1862, sergeants of Company A of the 34th Infantry (Piatt’s Zouaves), Company I of the 42nd Infantry at Plaquemine, La., in January 1864, field and staff officers of the 47th Infantry, Col. Augustus Parry and Capt. George M. Ziegler of the 47th Infantry, John K. Duke of the 53rd Infantry, Aaron J. Glathart of the 57th Infantry, James A. Bridges of the 70th Infantry, John Warner of the 76th Infantry, Charles D. Miller of the 76th Infantry, Charles D. Rathbone with the flag of the 24th Infantry, James Gallagher of the 78th Infantry, the funeral bier of Capt. Martin Armstrong of the 81st Infantry, Benjamin P. Brandt of the 120th Infantry and William F Barr of the 121st Infantry and 4th Battalion of the Pioneer Brigade.

Through The Camera’s Eye: Part Three, Ohio Veterans 1865 by Larry M. Strayer and Brad L. Pruden (pp. 23-27)
The authors document the last months of the war and the rush by soldiers to remember their service with badges and photographs. A total of 12 period images are showcased. Identified soldiers include William S. Friesner of the 58th Infantry, Joseph McElroy of the Veteran Volunteer Corps, Robert N. Traver of the 2nd Veteran Volunteer Corps, Richard Lemon of the 3rd Veteran Volunteer Corps, David R. Sims of the U.S. Navy with his wife Adelaide and daughter Lissa, Gen. Stephen J. McGroarty of the 82nd Infantry and his staff, Col. John W. Fuller of the 27th Infantry, Gen. John W. Sprague of the 17th Corps and his staff, James A. Kittle and Alonzo Corser with the regimental colors of the 55th Infantry, The daughter of Col. Jack Casement of the 103rd Infantry standing with the national flag of her father’s regiment and Capt. Warren W. Cooke with lieutenants George M. Young and William H. Wood of the 14th Infantry.

“Family Honor:” Mortimer and Wells Leggett in the Civil War photos from the collections of Larry Strayer and David Neville (p. 28)
A portrait of Maj. Gen. Mortimer D. Leggett pictured as colonel of the 78th Ohio Infantry and two images of Wells W. Leggett, a wartime view as chief engineer of the 17th Corps and a postwar portrait as a West Point cadet.

Six Buckeyes From The Collection of Stephen Altic (pp. 29-31)
Portraits include Pvt. Benjamin Franklin Coffman, Corp. Thomas J. Coen and an unidentified member of the 1st Infantry, an unidentified member of the 54th Infantry and privates William H. Hay and Allen Worthington of the 71st Infantry.

George Crook by Mark Kasal (pp. 32-33)
Four portraits picture the noted Union cavalry general.

Charles Jesson: Requiem for a Cannoneer by Mike Fitzpatrick (p. 34)
English-born Jesson began his war service with the 25th Ohio Infantry in 1861 and died of disease in May 1863—just two months after he received his corporal’s stripes.

William S. Bowman: Game Lad with a Gimp Leg by Mike Fitzpatrick (p. 35)
The Ohioan was only 16 when he enlisted in his home state’s 77th Infantry in the fall of 1861. After a bout of typhoid fever left him lame, he spent the rest of the war as a clerk, nurse and other less physically strenuous duties.

Ohioans From the Collection of Ken Turner (pp. 36-37)
Portraits include Pvt. William Lewis of the 5th Cavalry, Lt. John A. Mendenhall of the 75th Infantry (captured at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863), Frank Rockefeller of the 7th Infantry (brother of John D. Rockefeller), Sgt. George H. Jordan of the 1st Light Artillery and Lt. Col. James S. Crall of the 82nd Infantry with his counterpart in the 101st Illinois Infantry, John B. LeSage.

Ohio Cartes de Visite From the Collection of Steven A. Morr (pp. 38-39)
Portraits include Capt. William J. Colliflower of the 63rd Infantry, Capt. Jacob G. Bittinger, Capt. William H. Farber, Capt. Alonzo W. Hancock and Pvt. Isaac M. Thomas of the 64th Infantry, Pvt. Perry J. Maine of the 15th Infantry, 1st Lt. William A. Bell of the 4th and 65th infantries, Asst. Surg. John McCurdy of the 23rd Infantry and Asst. Surg. Nathan S. Richardson of the 118th Infantry.

Michael Hammerson’s Buckeyes (pp. 40-42)
Portraits include a hospital steward identified as Henry Hisler of the 103rd Infantry, a bewhiskered sergeant photographed in Cincinnati, Pvt. Edson M. Schryver of the 114th Infantry and 1st Louisiana Cavalry, Pvt. John P. Hall of the 7th Ohio Cavalry and four soldiers from the 37th Infantry: Capt. Paul Wittich, 1st Lt. Theodore Nieberg, 1st Lt. Jacob Ritter and 2nd Lt. William Weiss.

Ohioans From the Collections of Our Readers (pp. 43-46)
Portraits include Sgt. John Franklin Shearer of the 94th Infantry, a young infantryman standing at “Order Arms,” a fully equipped soldier photographed in Cincinnati, troopers from the 1st Cavalry, twin brothers Edward L. (52nd Infantry) and Fredrick P. Anderson (181st Infantry), a soldier dressed in a mounted enlisted man’s overcoat and Maj. John B. Rice of the 72nd Infantry with Capt. Richard B. Wood of the 3rd Cavalry, a soldier with what nay be a 23rd Corps badge, a soldier who served in the 4th or 8th infantries, Capt. David H. Moore of the 87th Infantry and Maj. George L. Wood of the 125th Infantry.

Sutler’s Row (p. 47)

The Last Shot (p. 48)
A circa 1888 cabinet card from the Chris Nelson collection pictures veterans of Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 23 gathered around the cannon “Millennium” which is composed of buckeyes.

Finding Aid: July/Aug. 1989

1989-v11-01-xi

The complete issue

Vol. XI, No. 1
(32 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
A selection of covers from the past five years is featured.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor observes the 10th anniversary of the magazine by thanking subscribers and contributors for their generosity, and offering an extended Stragglers section to display some of the best images from private collectors.

Mail Call (p. 2)
The letters to the editor include congratulations on the 10th anniversary with the comment, “MI is the only magazine of its kind and it certainly fills a need in in the military collecting field.” Also, more comments about Dave Mark’s Marylander issue.

Passing in Review (p. 3)
Six publications are mentioned: The Illustrated Confederate Reader (Harper & Row) by Rod Gregg, Soldiers Blue and Gray (University of South Carolina Press) by James I. Robertson, Two Great Rebel Armies (University of North Carolina Press) by Richard M. McMurray, Photographer on an Army Mule (University of Oklahoma Press) by Maurice Frank with Casey Barthelmess, and two new periodicals of note: Company Front, the newsletter of the 26th Regiment North Carolina Troops, and The Civil War News (revamped from the Civil War Book Exchange).

What Happened To This Man’s Navy? A brief history of Yeomanettes by John A. Stacy (pp. 4-7)
A 1917 authorization to enlist women as Yeoman led to a massive influx of young ladies to perform the traditional duties of this rank, and free up men to fight on the front lines. Portraits of identified yeomen include Lucy and Sydney Burleson, Mary B. Davidson, Edith R. Barrow and Mrs. E. DuBerry Sutherland.

Uncommon Soldiers (pp. 8-15)
In the introduction to this collection of images and personal accounts, the author declares, “Vignette portraits of individuals whose contributions made nineteenth century military life more colorful, to say the least. Some were scoundrels, some were heroes, all were Americans. Featured stories include Col. Myron Beaumont of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry, Sarah Malinda “Sam” Blaylock of the 26th North Carolina Troops, Maj. Levi Twiggs of the U.S. Marine Corps, Pvt. Amos Dalton of the Hampton Legion Infantry, Capt. Ezra Havens of the Mississippi Marine Brigade and Sgt. Harlan Cobb of the U.S. Engineers.

Americans All? A photo mystery game from Anthony Gero (pp. 16-17)
A group of 10 military portraits that date from 1870-1900 are featured. The goal: Guess which are American soldiers and which are not.

Military Imagery, An album of photographs from the collections of our readers (pp. 18-27)
A who’s who of collectors includes Donald Bates, Randy Beck, Michael Bremer, Jerry Coody, George Cress, Norman Delaney, John Ertzgaard, Al Fleming, Scotty Fritts, Ed Frutchey, Anthony Gero, William Gladstone, Brooks Hamm, Randall Hawk, Howard Hoffman, Lee Joyner, Robert Kotchian, Steven Lister, Terry O’Leary, Roy Mantle, L.B. Paul, Paul Reeder, Stephen Rogers, Bill Roll, Martin Schoenfeld, William Schultz, John Sickles, William Styple, David Sullivan, Steve Sullivan, John Wernick, Kean Wilcox and Donald Wisnoski. A total of 45 images are featured. Some are identified: Allen P. Hamm of the C.S. Marines, Capt. Jeremiah Rees of the Pennsylvania Militia, Michajah Berry of Mississippi, Confederate navy Lt. John MacIntosh Kell of the Sumter and Alabama, Boatswain’s Mate James Gurney of the U.S. flagship Severn, Lt. Edmund Reed of the Confederate vessel Stonewall, Randolph Axson of the 2nd Company, Washington Artillery of New Orleans, Union Gen. Alexander Asboth and Sgt. George Williams of the 146th New York Infantry.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 28-29)
In “Fourth Battalion of Rifles, Massachusetts Militia 1860-1861,” McAfee explores the history of this Boston militia group that became the nucleus of the 13th Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil War. Two portraits illustrate the text, Sgt. Sigourney Wales and 2nd Lt. Augustus N. Sampson.

Posing for the Carte de Visite Photograph by Henry Deeks (p. 30)
Described as “an article about style,” the author asserts that carte de visite subjects appeared more casual than the more formal poses seen in earlier images. As a result, the individuality of the subjects is more pronounced. Five images illustrate the text, A.A.E. Disderi, who invented the carte de visite, French politician Comte Frederic Alfred Pierre de Falloux, Capt. Benjamin W. Crowninshield of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, 2nd Lt. Francis Washburn of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry and 1st Lt. Henry May Bond of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry.

Sutlers’ Row (pp. 31-32)

Back cover
More MI covers.

 

Finding Aid: May/June 2012

2012-v31-06-xxxi

The complete issue

Vol. XXXI, No. 6
(40 pages)


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Inside

Cover image
Ambrotype of eight soldiers thought to be members of the Confederate 20th Tennessee Infantry at Rock Island Prison during the winter of 1863-1864. Additional details and information about the image appear on page 38, and a profile of the regiment can be found on pages 28-31. The image is credited to the Battle of Franklin Battlefield Trust.

Inside Front Cover Image
Bugler Roy Jackson, Troop I, 6th U.S. Cavalry, at Fort Meade, S.D., April 6, 1906. Jackson holds a Model 1892 bugle in this image from the Chris Nelson collection.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor observes that Civil War photo exhibits have always been popular, and notes the April 2, 2013, opening of Photography and the American Civil War at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. A selection of images from the exhibit is featured in the issue. The editor also notes the passing of legendary militaria dealer, collector, historian, author and longtime MI subscriber and contributor Norm Flayderman on May 23, 2013.

Enoch Long: Benton Barracks Photographer by Kevin Canberg (pp. 3-5)
The work of St. Louis photographer Enoch Long is well known by the distinctive painted canvas backdrop he used to frame his soldier portraits. Five examples of Long’s work are featured here, including the author’s portrait of Long himself seated in front of the backdrop, and four other images from the Library of Congress collections.

In the Spotlight (pp. 6-21)
A total of 25 “Images from the Collections of our Readers” includes a range of subjects and time periods. Union soldiers and sailors are featured in 12 of the images, and 6 are Confederates. Two are of unknown origin, and the rest of the images are soldiers photographed after the Civil War.

The Civil War Comes To The Met (pp. 22-27)
To mark the occasion of the blockbuster exhibit, Photography and the American Civil Q&A’s with curator Jeff Rosenheim, MI senior editor Michael J. McAfee and contributing editor David W. Vaughan shed light on how the exhibit came together. Both McAfee and Vaughan were lenders and consultants. Rosenheim noted in response to the question of how The Met decided to mount such an exhibit, “The belief that the medium of photography transformed the war and that the war transformed the medium of photography in interesting ways. Among other things, it established a visual tradition that defined American photography for the next 150 years.” The story is illustrated by seven images from the exhibit.

Desolation & Despair by D.A. Serrano (pp. 28-31)
The discovery of a rare outdoor ambrotype of Confederates provides the impetus for this story. Author Serrano notes, “Recently, an image of several Confederates purportedly taken at Rock Island Prison has come to light and with it a story of one of the most traveled, hardest fought regiments in the Army of the Tennessee, the 20th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.” The story profiles the respected regiment and includes portraits of six of its members, Pvt. William G. Bryant, Capt. Theodrick “Todd” Carter, Maj. Fred C. Claybrooke, Capt. William G. Gwin, Pvt. John Pritchard and Brig. Gen. Thomas Benton Smith.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (p. 32)
In “What’s in a Picture? (Or Look Closely!),” the author reflects on his recent eBay purchase of a carte de visite of an unidentified member of the 13th New York Heavy Artillery. He was inspired to bid on the image because the Hardee hat sitting on a small table next to the soldiers had its normally upturned brim unpinned, and the pin was still attached to the hat body—an unusual detail to be found in an image from this period. Once McAfee had the image in hand, he noticed a number of other surprising details.

Vignette from the Naval War, 1861-65 by Ron Field (p. 33)
In “U.S. Navy Pig,” Field examines a carte de visite by American photographer Villroy L. Richardson of about 50 seamen and one pig photographed off Lima, Peru, after 1862. Field describes the uniforms and activities of the men, and speculates that the pig may have been a mascot or more likely a source of fresh meat for the crew.

The Confederate Soldier (p. 34)
The colonel of the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, Baxter Smith (1832-1919) is shown full standing in this image from the John Sickles collection. Smith was captured on May 9, 1863, near the Caney Fork River in Tennessee, imprisoned at Johnson’s Island, Ohio, and exchanged in February 1865.

Six From Sickles by John Sickles (pp. 35-37)
A series of vignettes of Confederates includes John Van Horn of Spencer’s North Carolina Partisans and the 42nd North Carolina Infantry, John Ross of the 1st Mississippi Partisan Rangers (later the 7th Mississippi Cavalry), Frank P. Peak of Byrne’s Battery (attached to John H. Morgan’s cavalry), Henry H. Curry of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry and T.L. Kendall of the 1st Confederate Cavalry.

The Last Shot (p. 40)
Frank Battle of the 20th Tennessee Infantry was the son of the regiment’s colonel, and three of his brothers served alongside him. He distinguished himself in combat at the Battle of Stone’s River and went on to raise a company of cavalry for service under Gen. Joseph Wheeler. Battle was captured in Wilson County, Tenn., on July 29, 1863, and confined at Johnson’s Island, Ohio, until exchanged in February 1865. He ended the war with Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry, and later became a bounty hunter for the state of Tennessee.

Inside Back Cover
In this image from the Chris Nelson collection, Spanish American War dead troops are laid to rest. Their identities are painted on the ends of flag covered coffins.

Back Cover
A carte de visite from the Steve Karnes collection pictured men from the 26th New York Cavalry, also known as the “Frontier Cavalry,” on a Malone, N.Y., street. The regiment was organized in response to a daring Confederate raid on St. Albans, Vt., in the fall of 1864. The 26th was composed of troops from New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. An inscription on the back notes, “Frontier Cavalry Mass. Boys the day they left Malone to be mustered out, June 28, 1865.”

 

Finding Aid: March/April 2012

2012-v31-05-xxxi

The complete issue

Vol. XXXI, No. 5
(40 pages)


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Inside

Cover image
An unidentified member of Company A of the 74th New York Infantry posed for this carte de visite portrait in the Marty Schoenfeld collection. The 74th was one of five regiments that composed the famed Excelsior Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.

Inside Front Cover Image
A drummer from an unidentified regiment is the subject of this carte de visite portrait by F.L. Stuber’s Gallery of Bethlehem, Pa. It is part of the collection of Michael J. McAfee.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
Editor David Neville introduces this Zouave-themed issue and thanks all the contributors who participated.

Passing in Review (p. 3)
David Neville recommends two recent books, African American Faces of the Civil War (The Johns Hopkins University Press) by Ronald S. Coddington, and Lincoln’s Senior Generals: Photographs and Biographical Sketches of the Major Generals of the Union Army (Schiffer Publishing) by Thomas Glass.

Zouaves from the Collections of Our Readers (pp. 4-23)
A total of 36 images of Zouaves are included in this gallery of images contributed by magazine readers. Included is an albumen print of a soldier standing with saber and knapsack from the Dale Snair collection, Corp. Harry D. Anthony of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry (Birney’s Zouaves) from the Ed Max collection, a youngster attired in a complete uniform from the Ken Turner collection, Pvt. John Tate of the 76th Pennsylvania Infantry (Keystone Zouaves) from the Ed Max collection and Kady C. Brownell, a vivandière who went off to war with her husband, Robert S. Brownell of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia. The Brownell image is part of the Ron Field collection.

Mystery Zouaves! by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 24-25)
The author reflects on his boyhood in southeast Ohio and an image of a group of Dayton (Ohio) Zouave Rangers engaged in a mock battle that belonged to the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta, Ohio. The image and other artifacts were stolen from the museum in the 1970s only to turn up in the Liljenquist Family Collection donated to the Library of Congress. McAfee wonders, “What do our readers think of this coincidence?”

And Numbered They Lie with the Great Union Dead by Scott Valentine (pp. 26-27)
Profiles of two officers who served in the 165th New York Infantry, also known as the Second Battalion Duryea’s Zouaves. 2nd Lt. Robert Carville and Lt. Col. Abel Smith Jr. participated in the failed assault against the Confederate defenses of Port Hudson, La., on May 27, 1863. Carville was killed outright, and Smith suffered a mortal wound. Carville became the subject of a patriotic poem penned by his brother-in-law, Valentine Mott Francis, M.D.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 30-37)
In What Is a Zouave? (Part Two!), McAfee notes that he first wrote about Zouaves for MI back in the September-October 1979 issue. This second installment provides new information and includes four unique groupings, each composed of three cartes de visite, of Zouave images that highlight various aspects of the uniform. “Zouave Cadet Imitators” showcases soldiers in uniforms described as “knock-offs” of the gaudy Zouave style. “French Style Uniforms” features portraits of men in uniforms that closely approximate the French style. “Modified French Uniforms” show examples of common enhancements. “Zouaves of a Different Color” is a collection of lesser-known organizations.

A Few More Zouaves (p. 39)
Two cartes de visite are portraits of a member of the Sprague Zouave Cadets, which were part of the 7th Ohio Infantry (Dale Snair collection) and a post-Civil War image of a pair of Zoauve-attired officers who served in the 1st National Guard of New York (Michael J. McAfee collection).

The Last Shot (p. 40)
A Union soldier wears the uniform jacket cut in the Zouave-style. Hanging next to him on a chair is a large knife. The carte de visite portrait is from the Dale Snair collection.

Inside Back Cover
More Zouaves portraits include two cartes de visite from the Ed Max collection, an unidentified member of the 95th Pennsylvania Infantry, or Goslin’s Zouaves, and an unknown Zouave drummer. A hard plate image from the Dale Snair collection is a Zouave who may have been a member of Elmer Ellsworth’s United States Zouave Cadets. A carte de visite from the Michael J. McAfee collection is a Zouave who served in the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry, also known as Birney’s Zoauves.

Back Cover
Pvt. Henry Lyons was wounded in the leg on July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg. He served in the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry, also known as Collis’ Zouaves. The carte de visite is part of the Ed Max collection.

 

Finding Aid: January/February 2012

2012-v31-04-xxxi

The complete issue

Vol. XXXI, No. 4
(40 pages)


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Inside

Cover image
A Confederate soldier dressed in a frock coat and a Mississippi waist belt. The sixth-plate ambrotype is from the Brian Boeve collection.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor thanks everyone who responded to MI’s call for Zouave images and announces that the next issue “will feature many fine images of these hard-fighting, colorfully-clad soldiers.”

Front and Back cover details (p. 3)
Additional information is provided about the images pictured on the front and back covers.

The Photograph Album of Commissary Sergeant Oscar Sowles, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry by James J. Hennessey (pp. 4-15)
A total of 23 images, all cartes de visite, from an album kept by W. Oscar Sowles (1838-1881) of Wauconda, Ill. He enlisted in Company C of the 37th and served as commissary sergeant and quartermaster for his entire enlistment. Sowles, also spelled Soules, was wounded in 1863 after the pistol he was cleaning accidently discharged, resulting in the loss of a finger. Included in the collection is an image of John Charles Black, who served as colonel of the regiment, and Adolphus Simons, who served as its principle musician.

In Search of Randolph Clausen, Medal of Honor Recipient, U.S. Navy by Robert Anstine (pp. 16-17)
An image believed to be Lt. Claus Kristian Randolph Clausen (1869-1958) illustrates a biographical sketch of the Danish-born navy officer who served in the U.S. navy during the Spanish-American War and World War I. Clausen was awarded the nation’s highest military honor for extraordinary heroism during the night of June 2-3, 1898. He and seven others volunteered to block the entrance to Santiago Harbor, Cuba, by sinking the Merrimac. The mission failed without achieving its objective. Clausen and his mates fell into enemy hands and were released a month later after the destruction of the Spanish Armada.

The “Sons of Auld Scotia:” Scottish Military Units of the Civil War Period by Ron Field (pp. 18-25)
According to the author, “Approximately 600,000 Scots emigrated to the United States between 1851 and 1861 bringing with them a rich military tradition. Militia companies of Scottish origin wearing full Highland uniforms were formed both in Northern and Southern states, including Massachusetts, New York, Illinois and South Carolina.” What follows is an accounting of Scottish companies and regiments, illustrated with 10 photographs, an engraving and an advertisement. One of the images showcased in a carte de visite of a sergeant from the 79th New York Infantry from the collection of Michael J. McAfee.

Colonel George L. Willard, Gettysburg Casualty (p. 26)
Willard, the colonel and commander of the 125th New York Infantry, was milled in action on July 2, 1863, while in command of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps.

The 157th New York Infantry at Gettysburg: A Costly Endeavor by Steven Karnes (p. 27)
An accounting of the regiment’s near annihilation on July 1, 1863, when 309 of 409 of its members became casualties when they faced 1,300 Georgians in a fight along Carlisle/Biglerville Rd. The narrative is illustrated by an eight-plate tintype of unidentified soldier who served in Company I of the 157th.

Our Glorious Cause (pp. 28-32)
A gallery of five hard-plate images of Confederate soldiers from the Brian Boeve collection is prefaced by a verse from the song The Southern Soldier Boy. Two of the images are identified, Pvt. Mims Walker of the 4th Alabama Infantry and Pvt. Kenneth McIntosh of the 6th Tennessee Infantry.

The Confederate Soldier (p. 33)
James Monroe Edwards served in the 4th and 12th Georgia cavalries and survived the war. He settled in Ringgold, Ga., after the end of hostilities, married and raised three sons. He died in 1911.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 34-38)
In “The Frock: Part One,” McAfee examines the ubiquitous uniform coat and explains how it earned its reputation for economy, comfort and uniformity. The text is illustrated by eight cartes de visite of soldiers wearing interesting variations on the standard frock.

Sutler’s Row (p. 39)

The Last Shot (p. 40)
Maj. Thomas H. Hartmus (1835-1903) was a cotton broker in Memphis, Tenn., before the war began. He enlisted in the 34th Tennessee Infantry (Confederate) and served as a staff officer to Gen. William Bate. Hartmus participated in the battles of Jones Station, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Franklin and Nashville and the Atlanta Campaign. He was paroled at Greensboro, N.C., in May 1865.

Inside Back Cover
Three portraits of men who served in the 37th Illinois Infantry from the collection of Stephen Burgess include 1st Lt. Henry Curtis Jr. of Company A, Capt. Lorenzo B. Morey of Company A and Capt. George R. Bell of Company G.

Back Cover
An undated cabinet card from the John Sickles collection pictures a group of Hatfield’s (from the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud). Standing at the far left is Confederate veteran William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield.

Announcement of the Sale of MI in the Civil War News

Civil War NewsTranscribed from the latest issue of the print edition:

Ron Coddington Is New Military Images Publisher

ARLINGTON, VA.—Historian David Neville, who owned and edited Military Images magazine since 2003, sold it to Ronald S. Coddington of Arlington in early August.

Coddington, who is familiar to Civil War News readers as the author of “Faces of War,” took over as publisher and editor immediately.

Noting the magazine’s long tradition of excellence in bringing to light rare military portrait photographs, Coddington said, “I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to guide MI to the next chapter in its life.”

He said, “The magazine continues to play a key role in preserving the visual record and stories of citizen soldiers in America, and is a key source for information about uniforms and other aspects of the military.”

Coddington said, “In the current digital age, with so much new material surfacing, it is more important than ever to have a publication that showcases and interprets these important images.”

Harry Roach founded the Military Images in 1979. He set a mission to document the photographic history of U.S. soldiers and sailors from the birth of photography in 1839 through World War I, although the vast majority of published images date from the Civil War Period.

Roach sold the magazine in 1999 to Phillip Katcher, from whom Neville purchased it four years later.

Regular contributors to MI include some of the most knowledgable collectors in the country, including Michael J. McAfee, John Sickles, Chris Nelson, David Wynn Vaughan, Ron Field and Ken Turner.

Coddington said he is excited to continue working with all of the MI contributors and invites new faces with a passion for military photograhy to participate.

He may be contacted at militaryimages@gmail.com or militaryimagesmagazine.com

MI Changes Ownership After a Decade

Coddington, left, and Neville shake hands after signing the purchase agreement on August 10, 2013, at Neville's home outside Pittsburgh, Pa.

Coddington, left, and Neville after signing the purchase agreement at Neville’s home outside Pittsburgh, Pa.

Historian David Neville has stepped aside after a decade at the helm of Military Images. Neville, who has owned and edited the publication since 2003, sold the magazine to Ronald S. Coddington of Arlington, Va., on August 10, 2013.

Coddington is a contributing author to the New York Times Disunion series. He also writes “Faces of War,” a regular column in the Civil War News, and has authored three books published by the Johns Hopkins University Press. His latest volume, African American Faces of the Civil War: An Album, was released last year.

Coddington takes over as publisher and editor of MI immediately. “Military Images has a long tradition of excellence in bringing to light rare military portrait photographs, and I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to guide MI to the next chapter in its life,” reports Coddington. He adds, “The magazine continues to play a key role in preserving the visual record and stories of citizen soldiers in America, and is a key source for information about uniforms and other aspects of the military. In the current digital age, with so much new material surfacing, it is more important than ever to have a publication that showcases and interprets these important images.”

Harry Roach founded the magazine in 1979. He set a mission to document the photographic history of U.S. soldiers and sailors from the birth of photography in 1839 through World War I, although the vast majority of published images date from the Civil War period. Roach sold the magazine in 1999 to Philip Katcher, from whom Neville purchased it four years later.

Regular contributors to MI include some of the most respected and knowledgeable collectors in the country, including Michael J. McAfee, John Sickles, Chris Nelson, David Wynn Vaughan, Ron Field, and Ken Turner.

“I’m excited to continue working with all of our contributors, and to invite new faces with a passion for military photography to participate,” notes Coddington, who can be contacted at militaryimages@gmail.com or militaryimagesmagazine.com.