Civil War – Page 6 – Military Images

September 9, 2013January 3, 2024

Finding Aid: January/February 2012

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, 37^th 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 37^th 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 79^th 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 125^th New York Infantry, was milled in action on July 2, 1863, while in command of the 3^rd Brigade, 3^rd Division, 2^nd Army Corps.

The 157^th 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 157^th.

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 4^th Alabama Infantry and Pvt. Kenneth McIntosh of the 6^th Tennessee Infantry.

The Confederate Soldier (p. 33)
James Monroe Edwards served in the 4^th and 12^th 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 34^th 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 37^th Illinois Infantry from the collection of Stephen Burgess include 1^st 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.

August 22, 2013December 16, 2013

Announcement of the Sale of MI in the Civil War News

Transcribed 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

August 12, 2013December 16, 2013

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.