A complete table of contents for the Winter 2024 issue of Military Images magazine, and information about how to purchase single issues and subscriptions.

Vol. XLII, No. 1
(80 pages)

Print edition: Visit our store to check availability
Digital edition: Visit JSTOR.org to purchase
Subscribe or renew your subscription

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Inside

Cover image
An ambrotype from the History Center of Mobile, Ala, pictures Raphael Semmes, circa 1854.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
An update about the status of Herb Peck Jr.’s stolen collection from Bruce Jackson, the Peck Family agent and spokesperson.

Mail Call (pp. 3-4)
Feedback includes praise for the story about Herb Peck Jr.’s stolen collection.

Military Anthropologist (p. 4)
Since 1979, we’ve published 6,094 identified portraits of Union soldiers and sailors.

Passing in Review (pp. 6)
A book review of The Greatest Escape by Douglas Miller, published by Lyons Press.

Photo Sleuth by Kurt Luther (pp. 8-10)
A unusual backdrop painting of a broken cannon wheel with the name CULLY’s on it leads to South Carolina and the 33rd U.S. Colored Infantry.

Antebellum Warriors (p. 12)
A man dressed in civilian clothes wears military cross-belts consistent in style with Mexican War volunteers.

Most Hallowed Ground (p. 14)
John Lincoln Clem—Johnny Clem—is well known to students of the Civil War. An 1864 carte de visite portrait him includes an interview printed on the back.

The Honored Few (p. 16)
Brigadier General Alexander Shaler received the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg for his charge at Marye’s Heights.

The Citizenry (p. 18)
On the back of a carte de visite portrait of an unidentified woman is a list of all the places this image traveled during the war—25 stops from Rhode Island to Georgia.

Semmes: An iconography of Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes, C.S. Navy by Cliff Krainik (pp. 20-34)
Feared by the North and beloved by the South as a commercial raider, labeled a pirate in the press, and twice a best-selling author, this is Semmes’ life in images.

The Likeness of Amos Humiston by Mark H. Dunkelman and Megan Kelley (pp. 36-39)
Two keepers of the history of Amos Humiston of the 154th New York Infantry and the children of the battlefield of Gettysburg are their perspectives.

First in War, First in Blood: Benjamin Franklin Kelley, West Virginia’s first military commander by Richard A. Wolfe (pp. 40-49)
Union Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Kelley is remembered for his 1861 victory and his 1865 capture by partisan rangers. Here’s what happened in between.

Blessed Martyr, Vile Traitor: John Augustine Washington III, Mount Vernon’s last family owner and aide to Gen. Robert E. Lee by Ronald S. Coddington(pp. 52-62)
Forced with expensive upkeep and dwindling revenue, John A. Washington III sold Mount Vernon just before the Civil War and went on to join the Confederate army.

Material Culture by Mark Elrod (p. 64)
A look at early U.S. Model 1855 Harpers Ferry Rifles carried by Charles Smedberg of the 7th New York National Guard, and brother William of the National Rifles.

Behind the Backdrop by Adam Ochs Fleischer (pp. 66-69)
A tintype of Pennsylvania photographer William Kunstman posed with his unique background that includes a real cannonball is part of his story.

Stragglers (p. 72)
Two portraits of identified Confederates, one from Texas and another from Tennessee.

Vignette: Episodes of the Civil War by Scott Valentine (p. 74)
Captain Francis R. Leeds raised a company that became part of the 28th Connecticut Infantry. Eager to fight but sick with typhoid, he died before seeing action.

The Last Shot (p. 80)
A carte de visite of a sergeant of the 108th U.S. Colored Infantry holding the Stars and Stripes.

A complete table of contents for the Autumn 2023 issue of Military Images magazine, and information about how to purchase single issues and subscriptions.

Vol. XLII, No. 4
(80 pages)

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Inside

Cover image
A sixth-plate ambrotype from the late Herb Peck Jr. Collection pictures a Confederate soldier.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
Announcing a new online resource of identified soldier, sailor, and other wartime images that have been published in Military Images magazine since 1979.

Mail Call (pp. 3-4)
Feedback includes praise for the “Jeff. Davis and the South!” Story in the last issue, identifying a field grade Iowa officer, and more.

Military Anthropologist (p. 4)
Since 1979, we’ve published 1,770 identified portraits of Confederate soldiers and sailors.

Passing in Review (p. 6)
A review of Groundbreakers: The History of the Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Association by Stephen W. Sylvia and Nancy Dearing Rossbacher.

Photo Sleuth by Kurt Luther (pp. 8-10)
Finding a portrait of 1st Lt. Presley Oldham Craig, the namesake of Fort Craig, one in a ring of 68 defensive forts surrounding wartime Washington, D.C.

Antebellum Warriors (p. 12)
A militia company lines up along a road in front of a house in Angelica, N.Y.

Most Hallowed Ground (p. 14)
Captain Sanford Cobb Kellogg served as an aide on the staff of his uncle, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas.

The Honored Few (p. 16)
Francis Edwin “Frank” Brownell received the Medal of Honor for his role in the death of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth of the 11th New York Infantry.

The Citizenry by Elizabeth A. Topping (p. 18)
Civil War era portraits of individuals posed with empty chairs memorialize the sitter. The empty chair evokes sorrow from viewers.

Fakes, Forgeries and Frauds by Perry M. Frohne(p. 20)
In this case study, Perry uses a blacklight to reveal a modern forgery of an Abraham Lincoln carte de visite.

Searching for Herb Peck’s Images: 45 years after the theft of his pre-eminent collection, an update—and a new call to action by Ronald S. Coddington (pp. 22-37)
In 1978, a break-in at collector Herb Peck’s Nashville home ended with the loss of prize images. The case went cold, then heated up. Here’s the latest.

Lieutenant Washington’s Fateful Encounter: James Barroll Washington sat for a well-known portrait with George Armstrong Custer. Here’s the story behind it. By Ronald S. Coddington (pp. 40-49)
The story behind one of the most recognizable images of the Civil War: Lieutenants George Armstrong Custer, James Barroll Washington, and an enslaved child. 

“The Brave Boy-Lieutenant”: First Lieutenant and Aide De Camp Frank N. Sheets by Brendan C. Hamilton (pp. 52-55)
Frank N. Sheets of the 29th Indiana Infantry proved a model aide to Brig. Gen. Richard W. Johnson until his death at the Battle of Chickamauga.

How to Live Your Best Life: A Civil War Veteran’s Advice to the Future by Ronald S. Coddington, featuring artifacts from the Eleanor Laughlin Family Papers (pp. 56-58)
Months before his death in 1920, Civil War veteran Capt. Henry Haymond wrote a poignant letter of advice to his young great-grandson.

“Hard Cases”: Distinguished European soldiers who did not become U.S. generals by Frank Jastrzembski (pp. 60-64)
This trio of military men—Garibaldi, Klapka, and Zerman—were high on the list for Union generals. But they did not get commissions. Here’s why.

Q&A with Rick Carlile: On Obsessive Collecting Genes, Passion for CDVs, and More (pp. 66-68)
Longtime contributor Rick Carlile shares his origin story as a collector of books, baseball cards, and Civil War photographs. It’s in the genes!

Material Culture by Anthony F. Gero (pp. 70-71)
The distinctive California militia uniform of 1864-1865 featured blue cuffs and collars.

Stragglers (pp. 72-75)
Portraits include a Pennsylvania Bucktail, soldiers and civilians at recruiting headquarters in Philadelphia, and a Confederate lieutenant.

Vignette: Episodes of the Civil War by Scott Valentine (p. 76)
Assistant Surgeon Benjamin Walter Carpenter served in the 2nd and 9th Vermont infantries, and also as chief medical officer at Camp Douglas in Chicago.

The Last Shot (p. 80)
A half-plate ambrotype picturing Company D of the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry (U.S.) posed outdoors with a variety of weapons.

A complete table of contents for the Spring 2022 issue of Military Images magazine, and information about how to purchase single issues and subscriptions.

Vol. XL, No. 2
(80 pages)

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

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Inside

Cover image
A postwar cabinet photograph from the Doug York Collection pictures photographer Mathew B. Brady.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
In “Military Images and Gettysburg Publishing Tag Team a New Book,” the editor announces Gettysburg Faces: Portraits and Personal Accounts.

Mail Call (pp. 3-4)
Feedback includes requests for help finding images of the Richmond City Battalion, and for guidance on scanning cartes de visite.

Military Anthropologist (p. 4)
A survey of 867 cartes de visite reveals four ways photographers canceled revenue stamps affixed to images from 1864-1866.

Passing in Review (p. 6)
Book reviews: An Aide to Custer: The Civil War Letters of Lt. Edward G. Granger and Crosshairs on the Capital: Jubal Early’s Raid on Washington, D.C.

Photo Sleuth by Kurt Luther (pp. 8-10)
In “Making Civil War Photo Sleuth Identifications More Trustworthy,” Luther discusses DoubleCheck, a new verification feature.

Antebellum Warriors (p. 12)
Ambrotypes and albumens from the Paul Russinoff Collection feature West Pointer Henry Augustus Frederick Worth, 6^th U.S. Infantry, and his wife, Mary.

Most Hallowed Ground (p. 14)
Ezra Westcote Clark, Jr., an officer in the 34^th Ohio Infantry and staffer to Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, went on to federal civil service in Alaska.

The Honored Few (p. 16)
Charles Amory Clark, 6^th Maine Infantry, received the Medal of Honor for leading his command to safety at Brooks’ Ford during the Chancellorsville Campaign.

The Citizenry (p. 18)
Sarah Humphrey Bustill was connected to the Underground Railroad through her family, and to African American pioneer daguerreian Glenalvin Goodridge.

Fakes, Forgeries and Frauds by Perry M. Frohne (pp. 20-21)
Frohne’s “Fake Radar Contest” is a chance to test your knowledge of fake cartes de visite—and win a prize!

Brady 200: A forum (pp. 23-36)
To commemorate the bicentennial of Brady’s birth, we invited nine influential individuals—curators, collectors, and historians—to reflect on his relevance.

“Illustrations of Camp Life”: Thoughts on Mathew Brady’s overlooked early war series by Jeff L. Rosenheim (pp. 37-44)
Mathew Brady and his team of photographers produced an informal collection of outdoor portraits taken in and about the Defenses of Washington.

A Grand Gathering of Soldier Faces (pp. 46-51)
A survey of studio portraits of soldiers taken in the New York City and Washington, D.C., galleries of Mathew Brady.

Lincoln and Tad: A survey of images connected to Anthony Berger’s intimate portrait of a beleaguered wartime leader and his son by Chris Nelson (pp. 52-55)
A portrait of President Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad, taken on Feb. 9, 1864, became a staple in photo albums across the Union.

“The Camera Is the Eye of History”: A new memorial in Washington, D.C., honors Mathew Brady by Ronald S. Coddington (pp. 56-58)
Collector Larry West is spearheading a new memorial to honor Mathew Brady at Historic Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

“Living Shadows of the Passing Time”: Pioneer Arkansas photographer Thomas W. Bankes, his iconic image of the Sultana, and more by Gene Eric Salecker (pp. 60-65)
The story of Thomas W. Bankes, whose photo of the Sultana taken before it sunk with the loss of 1,200 lives ranks among the nation’s most memorable images.

A Collecting and Publishing Journey from the Civil War Centennial to Today—and the Future: Q&A with Ross J. Kelbaugh (pp. 66-69)
Ross Kelbaugh came of age in the 1950s when commemorations of the Civil War permeated popular culture—and launched him on an exciting journey of discovery.

Material Culture: Uniforms, equipment, weapons and related objects by Frederick C. Gaede (pp. 70-74)
Ponchos and waterproof blankets composed of rubber became the personal protection choice of many Union soldiers during the Civil War. Here’s the backstory.

Behind the Backdrop: Origins, artistry and photographers by Adam Ochs Fleischer (pp. 75-76)
In “Reflections on Two Years,” Fleischer looks back at previous columns and previews future plans.

Stragglers: Distinctive Images from MI contributors (p. 78)
Featured are two cavalry troopers who may have hailed from Texas or Mississippi.

The Last Shot (p. 80)
Saddler George H. McCoon of the 3^rd Wisconsin Cavalry sits astride his horse at Carroll Plaza, once the parade ground of the original Fort Scott, Kan.

A complete table of contents for the Winter 2022 issue of Military Images magazine, and information about how to purchase single issues and subscriptions.

Vol. XL, No. 1
(80 pages)

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

Explore the MI Archives:
Browse | Advanced search | Tutorial

Inside

Cover image
A half plate ambrotype from the Dave Batalo Collection pictures Lt. Alexander Hamilton “Sandy” Rogers, an aide to Confederate Lt. Gen. Daniel H. Hill.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
In “Showcasing the Artists Behind the Lens,” the editor recognizes the magazine’s commitment to documenting Civil War era photographers.

Mail Call (pp. 3-4)
Feedback includes comments by a new subscriber, additional information about two soldiers included in the last issue, and a tribute to the late Ken Bertholf.

Military Anthropologist (p. 4)
A chart tracks references to chasseur, hussar and zouave in U.S. newspapers from 1800-1875. Zouave skyrocketed in mentions following the Crimean War.

Passing in Review (p. 6)
Book reviews: Model 1841 Rifles and Their Confederate Bayonets by Thomas E. Singelyn; The Horse at Gettysburg: Prepared for the Day of Battle by Chris Bagley.

Photo Sleuth by Kurt Luther (pp. 8-11)
In “Reidentifying a Pennsylvania Cavalry Company,” Kurt Luther corrects an error introduced a century ago in Miller’s Photographic History of the Civil War.

Antebellum Warriors (p. 12)
A daguerreotype from the Dan Binder Collection features a militia soldier posed with a plumed bell crown shako. The image likely dates to the early 1850s.

Most Hallowed Ground (p. 14)
Cartes de visite of German immigrant Ludwig Philipp Seibert, a veteran Prussian cavalry officer who served on the staff of Union Brig. Gen. Charles C. Dodge.

The Honored Few (p. 16)
Private George Washington Walton of the 97^th Pennsylvania Infantry received the Medal of Honor for rescuing a wounded comrade at Petersburg in 1864.

The Citizenry (p. 18)
The courtship of Susan “Sue” Tarleton of Alabama and Confederate Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne ended with a Union bullet at the 1864 Battle of Franklin.

Fakes, Forgeries and Frauds by Perry M. Frohne (pp. 20-21)
In “New Technology + New Equipment = Better Fakes,” Frohne examines a tintype made by a modern wet plate collodion photographer and sold as an original.

Rees of Richmond: A fresh look at the combative, competitive and brilliant photographer Charles Ricard Rees by Dominick A. Serrano (pp. 22-37)
Though Charles R. Rees is little remembered by history, his rose to become Richmond’s foremost photographer with a unique portrait style. This is his story.

The Pride of Washington County: A newly discovered composite honors the 19^th Iowa Infantry’s Company C by Michael Huston (pp. 38-42)
A Civil War soldier portrait on eBay led to the discovery of a circa 1884 composite of surviving members of a company of mostly Iowa citizen soldiers.

A Red-Legged Devil Remembers a Revolt and Generous Brooklynites by Ronald S. Coddington, with artifacts from the Ken Fleming Collection (pp. 44-46)
Asa A. Holbrook of the 14^th Brooklyn Infantry shared cherished memories of his Civil War service. His photograph, uniform coat and other relics survive.

“Shall We Sustain the Government?”: A sergeant’s open letter to fight for the Union by Ronald S. Coddington (pp. 48-51)
Charles W. Singer of the 107^th U.S. Colored Infantry wrote an open letter encouraging Black men in blue to fight to save the Union and free enslaved people.

Lincoln Abroad: Views of President Abraham Lincoln from other countries by Chris Nelson (pp. 52-55)
A gallery of images produced in England, France, Germany, Italy, Peru and Russia show how citizens of other countries saw the 16^th U.S. President.

A Field Guide to Union Hussars by Ron Field (pp. 58-64)
The distinctive hussar style was adopted by few military organizations before and during the Civil War. The best known unit is the 3^rd New Jersey Cavalry.

Humanizing the “News from Our Brave Boys Down in Dixie”: Q&A with The Regimental Gazette Editor and Publisher Scott Valentine (pp. 66-68)
In the pre-digital era, Scott Valentine created a quarterly one-page publication to tell Union soldier stories and connect with fellow photo collectors.

Plate or Paper? Choosing the best format for a portrait photograph during the Civil War (p. 70)
A comparison of two primary choices for Civil War portraiture: hard plates (ambrotypes or tintypes) or albumen paper prints (cartes de visite).

Material Culture: Uniforms, equipment, weapons and related objects by Michael R. Cunningham, Ph.D. (pp. 71-73)
The Gray gutta percha knapsack, composed of two layers of unbleached cotton sandwiching a sheet of vulcanized gutta percha, was used during the Civil War.

Behind the Backdrop: Origins, artistry and photographers by Adam Ochs Fleischer (pp. 74-75)
In “The Palm Tree Backdrop of Jackson, Michigan,” Fleischer examines the distinctive painted canvases connected to photographer Norman Erastus Allen.

Stragglers: Distinctive Images from MI contributors (pp. 76-78)
Featured are brothers who served in Ohio regiments, a Confederate believed to be connected to the Trans-Mississippi Theater, an elite Knickerbocker, and more.

The Last Shot by Buck Zaidel (p. 80)
A Soldiers’ Photograph Album from the collection of the late Michael J. McAfee served as more than a container to hold images—it was a bridge to home.