Tag: Military Images

The complete issue

Vol. VIII, No. 5
(32 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
The ninth-plate ambrotype on the front cover is of a very young Zouave cadet, taken about 1861.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor provides guidance on how to best copy images for submission to Military Images.

Mail Call (p. 3)
Some corrections to captions for some of the Ronn Palm images from the previous issue are noted, along with an explanation of why the magazine stands by the captioning in an article from the November-December 1986 issue.

Passing in Review (pp. 4-5)
A total of seven publications are reviewed in this issue of MI beginning with Bold Dragoon: the Life of J.E.B. Stuart by Emory M. Thomas. This work covers the entire life of Stuart and examines not only his successes, but also his failures as the cavalry chief of the Army of Northern Virginia. Simpson Speaks on History by Col. Harold R. Simspon is an anthology of six of the author’s public presentations on a wide variety of topics that would be entertaining for most readers. Flashman and the Dragoon by George MacDonald Fraser is the seventh memoir by Brigadier Sir Harry Flashman, this time with Flashman ending up in the midst of the Taiping Rebellion in 1860. Two reprinted volumes are reviewed together: The Custer Myth by W.A. Graham and With Custer’s Cavalry by Katherine Gibson Fougera. The first is a comprehensive collection of information about the Battle of Little Bighorn as of 1953 while the second is a memoir of one of Custer’s officer’s wife, providing an excellent glimpse into family life of the cavalry on the Plains. Custer’s Field: “A Scene of Sickening, Ghastly Horror” by Francis R. Taunton in collaboration with Brian C. Pohanka in its third edition is next, attempting to use archaeological as well as contemporary accounts of the battle to explain some of the questions about the battle. Finally, The Man Who Tried to Burn New York by Nat Brandt is reviewed. The book tells the story of Captain Robert Cobb Kennedy, late of the 1st Louisiana Infantry, and how he became engaged in the Confederate secret service plot to burn New York in 1864 in protest against the wealth of the city while the South was suffering from the war.

The Sharps Rifle in the Civil War by Richard Carlile (pp. 6-9)
The favorite weapon of Civil War sharpshooters, the article examines the acquisition of the Sharps rifle by “Berdan’s Sharpshooters” of the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. It began with Private Truman Head, known as “California Joe” of Company C, 1st Regiment of Sharpshooters, who purchased a M1859 model on his own. Not happy with their standard issue Colt five-shot revolving rifle, the men decided they liked the weapon, and Colonel Hiram Berdan pressured for its procurement. To keep it within cost, the rifles ordered by Berdan had some modifications; many Sharps rifles found in images are rarely the Berdan type. The article is accompanied by 12 images which show both Berdan and other manufactures of Sharps rifles.

Some Sailing Men… by John A. Stacey (pp. 10-12)
Eleven different images of sailors from 1866 to World War I show a variety of uniforms, often with non-regulation application of insignia. One photograph shows four soldiers on liberty, two of the soldiers being members of the same ship. They are, however wearing different names on their hat ribbons, as the German vessel Kronen Prinzess Cecilie was taken by the U.S. Navy and renamed the Mount Vernon; the names show the transition from one name to the other. Another image shows the mascot from the U.S.S. Ohio, the pet goat wearing several different naval insignia.

John C. Black: A Medal of Honor Winner from Illinois by Bill McFarland (pp. 13-15)
Beginning with two tintypes of a supposed Jacob Black of the Illinois Greyhounds, the author eventually came to the conclusion that the two images were of the man who eventually became General John C. Black, whose service during the Civil War began with a three-month enlistment in the Zouaves of the 111th Indiana. Afterward, the young man whose family was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln returned to Danville, Illinois and organized what became Company K of the 37th Illinois Infantry. John was the major of the regiment, his brother William a captain, and a step-brother a lieutenant. Both of the brothers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions (William at the Battle of Pea Ridge and John at Prairie Grove), the only pair of brothers other than Thomas and George Custer to be so recognized.

Zou Zou!: More photos of American Zouaves and Chasseurs by Irena Zogoff (pp. 16-21)
A compilation of 18 different images shows the wide variety and popularity of these types of units, from a pair of small boys in Zouave uniform, to a Collis Zouave in an image with his father, to a group of Zouaves frolicking for the camera. Captions to each image provide the reader with information regarding the uniform and its unit identification.

Other Zouave Images: Contemporary Lithographs as a Reference Tool by Howard Michael Madaus (pp. 22-24)
Using lithographs and woodcut images to identify Zouave units rather than only photographic images is the topic of this article. Many of these other types of images were taken from photographs, some of which are lost to history, such as the lithograph of the Tremont Zouaves of Massachusetts which was featured on a songsheet cover early in the Civil War. However, the image probably used to create a lithograph of a Zouave on an envelope is likely taken from an image of First Sergeant Louis N. Tucker of the “Boston Light Infantry” about 1861. There is enough similarity as well as a slogan used by Tucker’s unit (“Death or an Honorable Life”) to assume the connection. What the lithographs show that the photographic images do not is the coloration of the uniforms, allowing the modern viewer a more complete understanding of what these elaborate and unique uniforms looked like, making lithographs another source of information for the identification of Civil War uniforms.

Lt. Sydnum Bridgers: An Officer in the 47th North Carolina Infantry by Barry I. Mickey (p. 25)
The vignette of the soldier shown in the carte de visite image tells the story of a unit that was organized early in 1862 without weapons or many supplies, and did not see any real action until New Bern in May 1863. At Gettysburg, the 47th and Lt. Bridgers was part of Pickett’s Charge, led by General Pettigrew. Bridgers survived that charge, and was one of the 400 men left in his unit. It was in October at Bristoe Station in Virginia that Lt. Bridgers was wounded, and left on the field overnight. Transferred to one of Richmond’s military hospitals, Sydnum Bridgers died a month later.

Stragglers (pp. 27-31)
The “Stragglers” in this issue of Military Images presents eight different images from the humorous to those that have many questions arising from them. One of these is a scene that might be in California; the American flag in the image shows 28 stars under magnification, indicating that it probably comes from the Mexican War era. Another is of a soldier wearing a black hat with an ostrich feather including the letters “RRCS” and epaulettes that are made up of dark tight braid. Two other images show soldiers sitting on the ground; one can see that their boots include hobnails and heelplates.

Back Image
Two unidentified soldiers, one a Confederate and the other a Massachusetts militiaman, surround a sixth-plate daguerreotype of Lt. William Spencer, 2nd U.S. Infantry, from 1855-58.

The complete issue

Vol. VIII, No. 4
(32 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 Union cavalryman plays his banjo from a sixth-plate tintype from the collection of Ronn Palm.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
This issue of Military Images is the first that is made up of selected images from one collection: “The Best of the Palm Collection.” Many of the included items are from his wide variety of images featuring Pennsylvania troops. The editor asks for feedback on this idea of featuring one person’s collection in an issue.

Passing in Review (pp. 2-3)
The five publications reviewed in this issue of MI begins with Historical Times Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Civil War, edited by Patricia L. Faust. This volume includes 2,000 entries that provide depth and detail that should appeal to the beginner and the experienced reader of Civil War information. It should be a companion to the Civil War Dictionary written by Mark Boatner. Second is The Cavalry at Gettysburg by Edward G. Longacre, who provides a long-needed description of the cavalry beginning in mid-June with Brandy Station through skirmishes leading up to the fighting at East Cavalry Field and the retreat ending in mid-July 1863. Longacre covers individuals like Stuart and Buford as well as others who are not as familiar to some readers. Third is The Fiery Trail, edited by Richard Harwell and Philp N. Racine, who take the letters and diary entries of Major Thomas W. Osborn of the Union Army of the Tennessee and provide them with detailed context and thus produce a detailed description of Sherman’s March. Fourth is The United States Navy: 200 Years by Edward L. Beach. Not intended to be a comprehensive history of the Navy, Beach looks at the people and incidents that had long-term impact on the future actions at sea, such as the fact that shots fired by the Monitor used only half charges. Last but not least is U.S. Army Uniforms and Equipment, 1889. This is a republication of the original Quartermaster Corps guide to all items ranging from barracks chairs to buttons, complete with line drawings and detailed descriptions. Collectors interested in this era’s items must have this publication.

Mail Call (p. 3)
Readers provided a few corrections from the survey of corps badges in the previous issue. One reader included an additional example of the crescent badge as worn by XI Corps, while another identifies an “unidentified” officer.

Interview with Ronn Palm (pp. 4-5)
The very first issue of MI in 1979 included a selection from his collection, and this issue begins with an interview with Ronn Palm. He discusses how he began collecting Civil War images and how he began to specialize in certain types of images. Part of the interview covers how he stores his collection of over 2,200 images of all types, as well as where he finds new images. He has made friendships with many dealers and most of his transactions now involve trading rather than outright purchases. The cost of images, he said, can be discouraging to new collectors, but he provides some suggestions for how new hobbyists can begin.

Infantry (pp. 6-11)
Ronn Palm’s image collection begins with 21 different images of Union soldiers who served in the infantry. The images range from carte de visite portraits of known and unknown individual soldiers to small group ambro- or tintypes images. A variety of uniform types and different weapons are displayed in these images. Most of the images have the typical backdrops used in period images, however one shows a soldier inside of a photographer’s tent, showing a very different glimpse of the era.

Zouaves and Chausseurs (pp. 12-14)
This selection of 10 images is also a mixture of individual and group portraits, including one that looks like it was taken outside, almost giving one the sense that it was taken during action. The wide variety of fancy and plain uniforms is shown as well. A pair of soldiers from the 62nd Pennsylvania shows how the uniform of that unit changed, from the plain uniform worn by Private Willis T. Benedict in 1861 to the epaulettes worn by Sergeant Abasha Cowen during his third year of service as noted by the chevrons on his sleeve.

Prisoners of War (p. 15)
Three images show both Union and Confederate prisoners of war. The group of five Confederates were held at Camp Douglas, Illinois, while the five Federal officers were held at Andersonville, Georgia. A single Connecticut soldier, Captain Billie Mays of the 23rd Connecticut, is shown upon his release from a POW camp in Texas; he has his gear and looks ready to go home.

Cavalry (pp. 16-21)
This section of the collection shows 22 different images of cavalrymen. Many of the images are individual portraits, with the first pages showing the men ready with a wide variety of weapons. While many of the men are unidentified, a few are known, such as Colonel Richard Rush and Captain Robert Mitchell, both of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, also known as “Rush’s Lancers.” Palm’s collection includes some posed outdoor images with cavalry mounts, including two that show the same five men. In one image two are mounted while three lounge on the ground, their faces visible between the horses’ legs and bellies; they switch places in the next image. Colonel Alexander Hays and his staff (63rd Pennsylvania) are also featured in a half-plate tintype. The last five individual images in this section feature soldiers holding the M1855 pistol-carbine, a rare collector’s item and appears even more rarely in images, although it may be a photographer’s prop for these soldiers.

Musicians (pp. 22-23)
Indoor, outdoor, and in a tent are where the images of musicians were taken for these two pages. Featuring a trio of horns, a drummer boy, a bugler, and a band outside at parade rest join a pair of older militia musicians with fife and drum.

Outdoor Images (pp. 24-27)
At one time, outdoor images were a passion for collector Ronn Palm, and it is easy to see why. The first image presented by MI here is captioned as being the “finest image” in his collection. It is a quarter-plate ambrotype of a company of Union soldiers lined up in an unidentified town. The detail provided by the civilians watching the soldiers in their ranks adds interest to the image for modern viewers. The other outdoor images featured include men relaxing (including one eating eggs with his meal), artillery at the ready, and two other units standing in ranks. One was taken shortly before the start of the Gettysburg campaign.

Officers (pp. 28-30)
The final selection of images from Ronn Palm’s collection includes 10 images of officers, both individual and group portraits. Two that stand out includes Captain John Laughlin of the 104th Pennsylvania who is the subject of a carte de visite while holding a model of a siege gun. The other is Lt. Col. J.W. Lyman of the 203rd Pennsylvania with his toddler daughter, Libbie; Lyman was killed at Fort Fisher in January 1865.

Back Image
A half-plate ambrotype image features a militia officer who looks a great deal like General Daniel Harvey Hill of the Army of Northern Virginia.

The complete issue

Vol. VIII, No. 3
(32 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
An unidentified Union field-grade officer, wearing his corps badge hanging from a ribbon, which denotes him as a staff officer.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
In this issue, the editor explains that issues of Military Images beginning with the January-February 1986 issue will be included in the ABC-CLIO index and abstract service. Abstracts of articles will be published in Historical Abstracts as well.

Mail Call (p. 3)
The controversy regarding the photograph of the unidentified Confederate Marine is concluded with a letter from a motion picture special effects artist. He took the images and ran them through some detailed photographic tests and found that the image is indeed that of Lt. David Raney. Brian Pohanka also provides newly found evidence that expands on his biography of Miles Keogh from the previous issue of MI: a letter that proves the rumor that Keogh had a premonition about his death. Other letters include questions regarding Missouri militia battle shirts and a request for help finding information about a Texan in the 9^th Texas Cavalry.

Passing in Review (p. 5)
Two items are included, beginning with the addition of five books written by Philip Katcher to the Man-at-Arms series by Osprey. His contributions include four books on the uniforms and equipment of the Civil War and one on the U.S. Cavalry on the Plains. The book WAR by Gwynne Dwyer is the second item reviewed. The volume, which covers the history of warfare from Armageddon in 1480 B.C. to the current era of nuclear warfare, also following his miniseries of the same name. A short note at the end of the feature lets readers know that Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn by Evan Connell has been released again in paperback with 24 photographs.

More Georgians in Gray: Brief Biographies of Confederate Soldiers, Part II by Keith Bohannon (pp. 6-13)
Fifteen different images, including some of siblings, illustrate the stories of these soldiers who fought for Georgia during the Civil War. The men came from a variety of backgrounds, from young farm boys to school teachers to the sons of the landed elite, and saw action from First Manassas to the horrific fighting at the Devil’s Den at Gettysburg to the surrender at Appomattox. A few died of disease, some in battle, and many resumed their lives as honored members of their communities after the war.

Massachusetts Mystery Medal by Howard Michael Madaus (pp. 14-15)
This article describes a very unique device worn by members of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, apparently first in use during the summer of 1863. Seen on the uniforms of five members of the unit, the medal appears to be a complete minie ball attached to a ribbon with a dark diagonal stripe on a square ribbon, with a bar attachment to a second piece of the same ribbon which is attached to a metal shield. The author of the article requests any information from the readership that could provide more light on the meaning of this interesting mystery medal.

Corps Badges of the Civil War, Part III: XI through XXV Corps by Wendell W. Lang, Jr. (pp. 16-26)
The final fifteen remaining Federal corps badges are the topic of this article. The author reminds the readers that a few of the corps (XIII and XXI) never adopted a corps badge and that some of the new corps adopted an old badge (the XX took on the badge of the XII) and others adopted new badges. Some of the men would wear their old corps badge even when their corps was integrated into a new one, so identification can be confusing at times. It is suggested that care be taken by collectors to use a magnifying glass to get as much detail about a corps badge as possible in order to make correct identification; some manufacturers even would put symbols on metal discs, which can also lead to misidentifications. The images included with the article show the crescent of the XI Corps, the five-pointed star of the XII Corps, the acorn of the XIV, the cartridge box of the XV, the symbol of the XVI (a circle which is said to have four minie ball cuts to make a rough cross), the second badge (an arrow) of the XVII Corps, the “foliate” cross badge of the XVIII, the initial four-pointed star of the XIX Corps, the unofficial five-leafed cross of the XXII, the escutcheon of the XXIII Corps, the heart-shaped badge of the XXIV, and the square within a square of the XXV Corps.

The Tenth Legion by Robert W. Fulmer (p. 29)
The Civil War saw the attempt to raise “legion” sized combined arms units, with approximately 1000 men organized into eight infantry companies along with a company of cavalry and one of artillery batteries. The Confederate legions (Hampton’s and Cobb’s Legions) are generally well-known, but the Union also raised one as well. The Tenth Legion was raised from Orange and Sullivan counties in New York, and its members wore a large shield with an “X” emblazoned on it, not to be confused with the X Corps badge. The color of the shield designated the combat arm the soldier belonged to: sky blue for infantry, green for rifle companies, orange for cavalry, red for artillery. The end of 1861 saw the recognition that a legion was unwieldy for the kind of fighting that was underway, so the Tenth Legion was broken up and its component parts being redistributed.

Stragglers (p. 31)
Military Images published in July-August 1981 (Vol. III, No. 1) a photograph of what was said to be a relaxed “Stonewall” Jackson standing along a fence in camp. The original quarter-plate ambrotype, stolen from the estate of Louise Briscoe, caused a sensation, with many not believing that the scruffy man wearing no rank could be Jackson. MI asked the reader who made the definitive identification of Lt. Raney (see “Mail Call”) to do the same kind of photo identification of this image. Mr. Fleming compared the image to four known images of “Stonewall” and his verdict: the figure in question is most definitely Thomas J. Jackson.

Back Image
The back of the issue features a ninth-plate ambrotype of an unidentified antebellum militia infantryman in a uniform typical of militia from North Carolina and Virginia. The bugle insignia was used by militia to designate rifle companies.

The complete issue

Vol. VIII, No. 2
(32 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
The full-length image of Christopher John Smith of the 3rd New Jersey Cavalry Regiment, also known as the 1st United States Hussars is the featured image on the cover of the issue. The 3rd New Jersey was also known as the “Butterfly Regiment” due to their elaborate uniforms, which can be easily seen in this image.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor begins by introducing this second all-cavalry issue of Military Images, providing an overview of the featured articles. He also describes some of the highlights of the year’s Gettysburg exhibit over the July 4th weekend, including an educational exhibit by William Adams of Massachusetts that featured a collection of faked items such as muskets and frock coats, hoping to show collectors how to spot actual period items from reproductions. The editor announced the collaboration of MI with the Japanese military history magazine PX; they will be reprinting Japanese translations of MI articles in their publication. Lastly, the editor encourages the readership to contact their U.S. Senator and voice support for the donation of the Taney Farm to the Gettysburg NPS site.

Mail Call (pp. 2-3)
Letters to the editor include some corrections on identifications of past images as well as some congratulatory letters from readers. One reader from South Africa provided some background information on the development of Hussar uniforms. Two lengthy letters continue the discussion regarding the possible identity of a Confederate States Marine Corps lieutenant as being Lt. David Raney of Mobile, Alabama.

The Darkroom (p. 4)
Guidance regarding the repair of wooden cases which have broken hinges covered by paper is provided.

Passing in Review (p. 5)
Two different publications are reviewed, beginning with Old Abe the War Eagle by Richard H. Zeitlin. “Old Abe” was the mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment during the Civil War, and this volume does more than provide a history of the famous bald eagle. It is a well-recommended regimental history of the 8th that takes it past the Civil War and into its history in the West, relying on many primary source accounts. The second publication is Civil War Commanders by Dean S. Thomas, a small reference of 105 Union and Confederate commanders. The intention was to highlight a number of notable commanders along with some uncommon images, although the reviewer does admit that a few choices made by the author seem unusual. Identical information is provided about each commander (e.g. basic biographical information, West Point attendance and standing, battle and campaign participation, etc.) making this a very nice short reference.

Vignette: John Ring, His Mark by Chris Nelson (pp. 6-7)
An image of a Union cavalryman in confident pose and a copy of enlistment papers provide the background of the story of John Ring, a South African sailor who volunteered for service in the United States Army on July 6, 1864. Private Ring was 26 years of age and while it is not known why he left the sea to join the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry, it can be inferred that he was an illiterate, as his “mark” serves as his signature on the enlistment paperwork. His service record shows that Ring served as a courier and orderly for most of his time in service, including a stint in the “Flying Hospital” at Camp Lee in Richmond. Like many servicemen, he apparently left the army when he felt his time had been served; his service record shows he left about August 13, 1865 with approximately $69.11 worth of ordnance and supplies in his possession. Nothing more is heard of from Private John Ring until 1923, when a request from a Massachusetts congressional member led to desertion charges being dropped.

Teddy’s Troopers: A look at the Rough Riders of 1898 by John Sickles (pp. 8-10)
A collection of five images shows some of the take of the independent cavalry regiment organized by Theodore Roosevelt. The article outlines some of the eclectic mix of Americans collected to form the “Rough Riders” who served with Roosevelt in the Spanish-American War under the leadership of Leonard Wood and former Confederate general “Fighting Joe” Wheeler. Fearing that they might not make it to the fight, two of the images show the Tampa encampment and then the troopers on the crowded deck and rigging of the Yucatan; they left the horses behind to get on a transport to Cuba.

The 1st D.C. Cavalry by Richard Carlile (pp. 11-13)
The only regiment of cavalry recruited in the District of Columbia was originally to only be used in that location, under the command of the War Department. Known as “Baker’s Mounted Rangers” and recruited between June and December 1863, Colonel Lafayette C. Baker’s men were an unusual group, actually made up of mostly Maine men. As they were armed with the powerful Henry repeating rifle, only half of the regiment was initially mounted. They also ended up serving outside of the District, taking part in the Weldon Railroad in May 1864 and the Siege of Petersburg later that year. Eventually, the Maine elements were transferred to the First Maine Cavalry, leaving the D.C. companies to remain with the Army of the Potomac. Seven images of D.C. Cavalry troopers accompany the article.

Vignette: Henry Seafferman, 7th Cavalry by George Hart (p. 14)
Born in France and immigrating to Indiana as a child, Henry Seafferman served with the 2nd United States Cavalry before the Civil War began. During the Civil War, he was with the 5th as it was redesignated, serving in the Army of the Potomac. The sixth-plate tintype image that accompanies this vignette shows a young man armed with a bayonetted rifle and pistol taken during this time. After the war, Seafferman enlisted with the 7th Cavalry under Custer. Noted by the First Sergeant of G troop as being one of the best shots in the unit, Seafferman was killed during the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876.

Myles Keogh by Brian Pohanka (pp. 15-24)
Ten images accompany this biographic article that recounts the life and career of Myles Keogh, the Irish-born cavalry officer who was part of George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry. Coming from a comfortable background, Keogh joined 1400 other Irishmen to fight in defense of Pope Pius IX against Giuseppe Garibaldi’s revolutionaries in May 1860. The article follows Keogh’s progress as a lieutenant in the Zouaves of the Papal Guard, known as the Company of St. Patrick to his coming to the United States and his career as a member of several generals’ staffs, including John Buford and George Stoneman. Captured and exchanged at one point during the war, Keogh was known not only for his dashing appearance, but for his bravery on the field of battle. The article also details his career after the war in the service of the 7th Cavalry, but also delves into some of the more private side of Keogh, including his melancholy, apparent alcoholism, and his disappointment in romance. Keogh is often remembered as the owner of the cavalry mount Commanche, the only “survivor” of the Little Bighorn disaster. That is but one chapter of a much storied career.

The Search for Lt. Crow by John Ertzgaard (p. 25)
The image accompanying the article was the subject of a long search, and was eventually found to be that of Lt. William Porter Crow, Company B of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, under the command of John Hunt Morgan. The author of the article outlines his search and provides the military background of Lt. Crow, who was captured during Morgan’s raid into Ohio in the summer of 1863. The long incarceration following his capture led to his early death from lung disease in November of 1865.

Stragglers (pp. 26-28)
This issue’s version of “Stragglers” includes two images that are offered as “Pop Quiz No. 317” and “Pop Quiz No. 318” along with an image of three Federal artillerists posing while playing cards. The background of the two quiz images highlight groups that often were given military-type organizations, such as the Western Union Telegraphic Expedition (No. 317) and possibly the Masonic group called the Knights of Gideon (No, 318).

Back Image
A unique carte de visite image shows a Union cavalryman holding onto the rein of a horse painted onto a backdrop of canvas.

The complete issue

Vol. XXVI, No. 5
(40 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 sixth-plate ambrotype from the David W. Vaughan collection is a portrait of Pvt. James M. Hart of Crenshaw’s Virginia Battery. This may be the only known image of a soldier clad in Confederate regulation rain gear.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor notes the 143^rd anniversary of the Battle of Antietam and highlights the collection of Brian Boeve, who has long had an interest in this pivotal engagement. A letter to the editor discusses a 75^th anniversary Gettysburg Reunion Medal worn by a bugler pictured in the last issue.

Cover Story (p. 3)
James Malcolm Hart, who suffered a wound at the Battle of Fredericksburg, is the subject of a biographical sketch.

Passing in Review (pp. 4-5)
Two books are reviewed. Custer’s Southern Officer: Captain George D. Wallace, 7^th U.S. Cavalry by John D. Mackintosh praises the author for giving Wallace his due after years of obscurity. The Civil War Up Close: Thousands of Curious, Obscure, and Fascinating Facts About the War America Could Never Win by Donald Cartmell is described as a useful book even though it sheds little new light on familiar topics.

Shiloh, “Place of Peace” by Brian Boeve (pp. 6-12)
A gallery of nine soldier portraits is presented, each illustrated with informative captions. All of the men are identified. They include John Keppel, John Eichelberger and Lemuel Donovan of the 2^nd Iowa Infantry, Christie Babbitt and James Robbins of the 55^th Illinois Infantry, Edward Cooper of the 23^rd Missouri Infantry, George Reiflin of the 24^th Indiana Infantry, Charles A. Johnson of the 12^th Illinois Infantry and Jesse Sherer of the 5^th Ohio Cavalry.

Review at Fort Smith, Arkansas, November 12, 1864 by Jules Martino (pp. 13-17)
A brief history of Fort Smith during the Civil War years is illustrated by six quarter-plate outdoor tintypes that include soldiers from the 12^th and 13^th Kansas infantries and the 2^nd Kansas Battery. Also included is a Library of Congress photo of Union Gen. Francis J. Herron, who inspected the soldiers shown in the tintypes.

Long Soldier by Charles G. Markantes (pp. 18-19)
A famous photograph of Lt. Col. George A. Custer and friends taken in July 1875 includes a Native American originally identified as Bloody Knife. He served Custer as a scout. An article in the Spring 2004 issue of Past Times magazine suggested that the Native American was unidentified. The author suggests that the man is actually Long Soldier and supports his theory with primary source material and other information.

Finding Major Robert C. Wallace of the 5^th Michigan Cavalry by John Peter Beckendorf (pp. 20-24)
In this first part of Wallace’s story, the author tells the story of the life and military experiences of the Scottish-born soldier who left behind his memoirs upon his death in 1928. Three portraits of Walter Stevenson, which were at one time thought to be likenesses of Wallace, are included. Also included are two actual portraits of Wallace and two staff images in which Wallace is pictured.

Five Dilley Brothers Go to War by J. Dale West (pp. 25-31)
The wartime odyssey of the five Dilley brothers from Yazoo County, Mississippi, traces the service of Joseph Andrew, Robert William and Samuel Usher Dilley, who all served in the 12^th Mississippi Infantry, Abraham Thomas Dilley, who served in Jones’ Cavalry, Mississippi State Troops, and Eugene Perry Dilley of the 29^th Mississippi Infantry. Illustrations include a wartime ambrotype of Robert and Samuel, a portrait of Abraham in uniform and a post-war image of Joseph.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (p. 32)
In “The First Regiment of Mounted Rifles, New York Volunteers,” McAfee presents a brief history of the regiments and a description of the uniforms worn by the men. A carte de visite of two soldiers from the 1^st, wearing distinctive caps adorned with the brass letters MR, illustrates the text.

The Confederate Soldier (p. 33)
A sixth-plate ambrotype from the David W. Vaughan collection is a portrait of two young soldiers who served in Capt. T.B. Ferguson’s Company of the 3^rd South Carolina Infantry.

Stragglers (pp. 34-38)
Nine images are featured in this issue, including four unidentified Confederates and two identified Union soldiers, Principal Musician Charles E. Hastings of the 106^th New York Infantry and Capt. William Howland of the 127h New York Infantry. Another Civil War image is a double exposure carte de visite of an elderly man named John S. Wilkerson or Wilkenson. In one half of the image he plays a fife and in the other a drum. Two post-Civil War images include an 1898 portrait of Corp. Adrian Ellery Riley of the Astor Battery and a World War I era soldier named Alphonse Bissonett.

Sutler’s Row (p. 39)

The Last Shot (p. 40)
A tintype from the Bill Lee collection pictures an unidentified Union musician with his drum. In the foreground can be seen the leg and arm of a soldier in a chair, perhaps waiting to have his photograph made. In the background two overlapping backdrops are visible.

The complete issue

Vol. XXXIV, No. 2
(64 pages)

Print edition: Visit our store to check availability
Digital edition: Visit JSTOR.org to purchase
Digital edition (premium access)
Subscribe to MI
Explore the MI Archives: Browse | Advanced search | Tutorial

Inside

Cover image
A previously unpublished quarter-plate tintype of Jefferson Davis attributed to photographer Jesse H. Whitehurst of Washington, D.C., from the collection of John O’Brien.
Download (free)

Table of Contents (p. 1)
Download (free)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor notes that thousands of portrait photographs of soldiers and sailors have been published in the magazine since it was founded in 1979. Enlisted men from all walks of life and of all ranks compose the vast majority of images, though likenesses of nurses, vivandières and patriotic persons have graced our pages. In every case, each image and its associated narrative is a microhistory —a historical investigation on the individual level. They are windows that shed light on the larger themes of the American experience.
Download (free)

Mail Call (p. 3)
Feedback includes a misidentified Zouave, a Wisconsin infantryman, more on a local Civil War hero and efforts to honor his memory and a note about surcingles.
Download (free)

Passing in Review (p. 4)
Soldier stories are freshly mined nuggets of history in a new book by John Banks, Hidden History of Connecticut Union Soldiers (Arcadia Publishing). A longtime journalist and blogger, Banks maximizes his skill as a reporter and writer to tell representative stories of Connecticut Yankees. His compelling narratives better our appreciation of the human cost of war for soldiers and families.
Download (free)

On the Eve of War: Previously Unknown Portraits of Jefferson and Varina Davis Come to Light by John O’Brien (pp. 6-9)
Previously unpublished portraits capture future Confederate Commander-In-Chief Jefferson Davis and first lady Varina Howell Davis at a critical moment in history. The pair of quarter-plate tintypes, part of the John O’Brien, have an extraordinary provenance that traces to an unexpected source—U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles.

The Absolute Truth of Photos by William C. Davis (p. 10)
A reflection on the Jefferson Davis tintype: “Today, we are the first Americans to see, for the first time, the weary and pained face of the man destined to lead a lost cause whose echoes reverberate still, and whose issues at root still trouble our society in the 21st century.”

On the Eve of a Crossroads by Joan E. Cashin (p. 11)
A reflection on the Davis tintypes with emphasis on the portrait of Varina Howell Davis: “They were both pro-slavery, believing that the Constitution protected the institution, but she did not share his growing hostility towards the North.”

Custer’s West Virginia Red Ties: The Life and Times of the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry by Richard A. Wolfe (pp. 12-17)
The history of the 3rd begins with a military company formed in the pro-Union western counties of Virginia and ends in the Shenandoah Valley fighting under the command of flamboyant Maj. Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

The Honored Few (p. 18)
Hilary Beyer, a second lieutenant in Company H of the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry, proved his courage in the infamous Cornfield at the Battle of Antietam. His actions resulted in the Medal of Honor.

The Great Outdoors: Civil War Soldiers at Work, Rest and Play by C. Paul Loane (pp. 20-30)
Images of soldiers pictured in camp, on campaign and other locations have always held a special interest for collector C. Paul Loane. “There is more going on than just the soldiers standing there,” Loane explains. “They are particularly helpful in seeing just what kind of environment the soldiers were in or what gear they really did use,” he observes.

Antebellum Warriors (p. 31)
A sixth-plate daguerreotype from the Ron Field collection pictures a man dressed in clothing that makes it difficult to discern whether he is a soldier or a civilian.

Held Hostage in Virginia: A Union Captain Becomes a Casualty in a Battle of Wits Between Jefferson Davis and John Pope by Scott Valentine (pp. 32-34)
Samuel Miller Quincy suffered a wound and fell into enemy hands after his 2nd Massachusetts Infantry was routed at the Battle of Cedar Mountain on Aug.9, 1862. He could not have known that he would be treated not as a prisoner of war, but as a hostage in a deadly game with no ground rules.

Union Wives and Their Generals by Tom Glass (pp. 35-43)
Nearly all the generals who served the North during the Civil War were married. Left behind at home, their wives cared for families, farms, businesses and relatives. A few accompanied their husbands into fields of action. Many generals seemed eager to have their betrothed with them as frequently as possible. And often, the wives of generals had greater access to headquarters than junior officers. A representative sample of portraits of these military couples.

“A Hideous Dream” by John Banks (pp. 44-46)
In an exclusive excerpt from Hidden History of Connecticut Union Soldiers by John Banks, a family is divided by two brothers, one who fought for the North and another for the South.

Stragglers (pp. 47-50)
A total of eight distinctive and unique images from MI contributors includes a full-plate ambrotype of a Louisiana officer, a sixth-plate tintype of a Chausser, a sixth-plate ambrotype of a federal infantryman with his pocket watch and a carte de visite of Harper’s Weekly illustrator Theodore R. Davis seated upon Lookout Mountain with a group of Union staff officers.

Photo Sleuth by Kurt Luther (pp. 52-54)
The gift of a soldier carte de visite with distinctive markings—red ink numbers in the lower left corner and brass clips at the top and bottom of the mount—is the starting point for the story of the Dead Letter Office, a special branch of the U.S. Post Office charged with solving undeliverable mail mysteries.

An Album of Ardent Patriots: Company B, 33rd Illinois Infantry by Jim Hennessey (pp. 56-57)
Untold numbers of albums filled with soldier photos are scattered across the country, and they have survived more than 150 years. Here are the stories of the men pictured in one of them.

Words Exchanged in an Ambulance by Ronald S. Coddington (pp. 58-60)
In the wake of fighting in Virginia during the spring campaign of 1864, two wounded soldiers shared an ambulance. A grizzled New Hampshire sergeant lay on one side and a young South Carolina private on the other. The two soldiers conversed and found common ground on the way to an uncertain future.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 61-62)
Napoleon purportedly commented that an army travels on its stomach. If that was the case, the commissary officers keep it moving. Likewise, ordnance officers maintain the flow of weapons and ammunition, and inspectors make certain the men and their equipment are up to snuff and ready for action. The vital work of officers of both the General Staff and regimental staffs is often overlooked by the average Civil War buff. McAfee explores the variations of uniforms of these underappreciated staffers.

The Last Shot (p. 64)
Collector Gary Bart shares an unusual carte de visite of a New York man dressed in a dress and shawl. The image is dated June 11, 1865, about a month after Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured wearing his wife’s overcoat.

The complete issue

Vol. XXVI, No. 3
(40 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
From the collection of Chris Nelson, an unusual unidentified trick photography carte de visite by J. Jones, Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.

Table of Contents (p. 1)

Editor’s Desk (p. 2)
The editor is gratified by the overwhelmingly positive response to the recent Georgia issue and notes that an Ohio-themed state issue will be featured next.

Passing in Review (pp. 4-5)
Two books are reviewed and both are recommended. Faces of the Civil War: An Album of Union Soldiers and Their Stories by Ronald S. Coddington offers “valuable insights into the experiences of seventy-seven Union ‘faces of war.’” Great Maps of the Civil War, Pivotal Battles and Campaigns Featuring 32 Removable Maps by William J. Miller is a “handsomely produced volume” that is well-researched and colorful.

The Flag of the 17^th Texas Consolidated Cavalry by John Sickles (pp. 6-7)
A photograph taken at Lufkin, Texas, on Sept. 21, 1929, depicts the bullet and shell torn flag of the regiment held by two of its veterans, W.P. Fears and E.W.H. Parker. A one-page history of the 17^th is included.

“Slow Trot” Thomas Between Wars: Accurately Dating an Antebellum Image by Gregory J.W. Urwin (pp. 8-11)
An 1853-1854 daguerreotype by Mathew B. Brady of future Civil War Gen. George Henry Thomas pictures the officer as a brevet major in the 3^rd U.S. Artillery. A three-part narrative accompanies the image. “The Man” is a biographical sketch of Thomas from his beginnings in Virginia to his rise to fame as “The Rock of Chickamauga” and his post-war years. “The Image” is a physical description of the image and case. “Dating the Image” is a description of how the author, a professor of history at Temple University, concluded that the image was made by Brady in the 1853-1854 timeframe—a year earlier than the 1855 date given by the curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in the late 1970s.

The 12^th Kansas Infantry “Jayhawkers” by J. Dale West (pp. 12-17)
An album of 25 soldiers who served in the regiment includes 8 identified men: 1^st Lt. William A. Welles of Company C, Capt. Nick L. Benter of Company C, Sgt. Maj. Clarkson Reynolds, 1^st Lt. and Regimental Quartermaster Joshua Clayton, 2^nd Lt. Samuel S. Kirkham of Company C, 1^st Lt. William B. Nichols of Company C, Pct. Enos Ingle of Company D and Brig. Gen. John Edwards.

The Death of John Kent C.S.A. by Mahlon Nichols (p. 18)
A biographical sketch of Kent, a private in the 2^nd Missouri Infantry, includes a touching obituary with his final words, “I die in a good cause; tell my friends good-bye.” The sketch is illustrated with a hard-plate image of Kent in civilian dress.

“Red,” The Story of Lt. James D. Bebout: Gridiron Star, All-American Hero by John W. Turner (pp. 19-21)
A standout football player at Penn State from 1910-1914, Bebout graduated with a degree in agriculture and went to work for the federal government. After war was declared against Germany during World War I, he joined the U.S. army as an officer and was assigned to Company D of the 318^th Infantry of the 80^th Division. In May 1918, Bebout sailed for France with his division. Four months later, on Sept. 29, he was killed during the fighting at Bethincourt. Included in the story is a 1919 letter written by Bebout’s friend and fellow officer, Capt. E.C. Shively. It describes Bebout’s death and other wartime reflections of the late Penn State star.

Contributions to the War Effort from Shrewsbury, New Jersey by Thomas J. Moeller (pp. 23-25)
The identities of the veterans pictured in a circa 1884 photograph of the members of Grand Army of the Republic Post 61 in Shrewsbury, N.J., are not known. The author however has a list of the names of all the membership, and notes that “their personal stories run the spectrum of New Jersey’s military service during the Civil War. Several stories follow, with wartime images of 2^nd Lt. William Conover and 1^st Lt. William H. Foster of the 14^th New Jersey Infantry and Capt. Samuel Tucker Sleeper of the 11^th New Jersey Infantry.

William Worth Belknap, Fallen Hero by Thomas Gaard (pp. 26-31)
Belknap, the author states, “is best known as the Secretary of War in the Grant Administration. He was charged with corruption, resigned his position and was impeached by the House of Representatives.” His fall from grace overshadows a distinguished war record that includes the Battle of Shiloh, during which he suffered a serious wound, and the campaigns of Vicksburg and Atlanta. Belknap’s story is illustrated with an early war albumen print of him as an officer in the 15^th Iowa Infantry, an image of Belknap as a brigadier general with two orderlies, a group portrait of the general with his staff officers and other images.

Uniforms & History by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 32-33)
In the “165^th New York Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865, Second Duryea Zouaves,” McAfee recounts the history of the regiment and describes their distinctive uniforms. Three portraits are included, an unidentified private, 1^st Lt. Gustavus F. Linquist and 2^nd Lt. Charles Carville.

Stragglers (p. 34-38)
A total of 16 images are featured—Nine from the Civil War, one from about 1901, and six from World War I. Several of the latter portraits are identified. The identities of two of men in a group of nine generals in a circa 1918-1919 portrait are known: Benjamin Foulois, Chief of the Air Service, AEF, and Manus McCloskey, a field artillery brigade commander in the 77^th Division. Other identified men included a Japanese-American Doughboy, Pvt. Hatsuko Kasagi, Pvt. Stephen Savko of the Medical Department of Base Hospital #80 and Pvt. Frank Berkavich.

Sutler’s Row (p. 39-40)

The complete issue

Vol. VIII, No. 1
(32 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
The cover of the current issue is an American hussar from about 1860, complete with the fur headgear with the death’s head insignia.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor discusses the problem that the publication team had with saving and using back issues of Military Images. He writes with high praise for the work of Frank Jasek, who bound each volume into a hardcover set. The editor also discussed some of the upcoming features planned for future issues.

Mail Call (pp. 2-3)
A lengthy letter from a reader questions the identification of an individual in as Lt. David Raney, Confederate States Marines, providing a great deal of information to put the positive identification back into question. Another article disputes the assertion that the Colt revolving rifle saw limited and unpopular use during the war, using the history of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade as evidence.

Passing in Review (pp. 3-4)
Four volumes are presented for review in this issue of Military Images. First is Recollections of a Naval Officer by Captain William H. Parker, which is a quality reprint of the memoirs of a Confederate naval officer who had many memorable experiences; it is reprinted as part of the Classics in Naval Literature series. Next is Soldiers: A History of Men in Battle by John Keegan and Richard Holmes. The volume is a companion book to a British television series and devotes considerable space to discussions of the American Civil War and the lessons that were “too often ignored by professional soldiers in Europe.” Third is History of the First Delaware Volunteers by William P. Seville, another reprint of the original and only history of the unit written in 1884. Last is a review of an audiotape, Battlefields and Campfires, by the 97th Regimental String Band. Created by reenactors. The tape includes many of the songs of the era, played as they would have likely been played by soldiers of the Civil War.

The Darkroom (p. 5)
George Hart answers a question from a reader regarding the best way to repair damaged daguerreotype cases and how collectors store or clean their images. He responds with a list of products and suggested reading, and also explains that the means used by museums to control the environments of their collections are beyond the means of collectors. He describes how a pistol case can be used to protect images that are within cases and also cautions collectors to use “acid free” products that might come into contact with albumen images in particular.

Izzat a Chaplain or what?: Masonic Uniforms of the Civil War Period by Jacques Noel Jacobsen, Jr. (pp. 6-7)
A part of American history that goes back to before the Revolution, the fact that there were organized military lodges of Masons among both Union and Confederate soldiers should come as no surprise. The story is frequently told of captured or wounded Masons giving the sign of distress to their captors in order to receive protection while captured during the Civil War. What is more unusual is to see some of the Masonic badges and symbols from this era. The article includes six different images which describe the insignia, from the simple Masonic square and compass to the more elaborate insignia worn by Knights Templar and even a Master Mason. Two images from the post-Civil War era are also included.

Corps Badges of the Civil War, Part II: VI through X Corps by Wendell Lang (pp. 8-15)
The second of the series on the Corps badges worn by Federal soldiers begins with a short description of how the felt insignia were supposed to be worn, which was on the front or top of the cap, or the side of wide-brimmed hat. As seen by the images included in the article, the men had other ways of wearing their corps badges. Often purchasing more elaborate pins or even cockades, the men would also wear their badges with pride on their chest. One image shows a private of the 10th Vermont Infantry wearing the badges of both III and VI Corps, along with another shield-shaped badge, showing the movement of units between corps. The article shows thirteen soldiers wearing the VI Corps badge, a vertical Greek or Swiss cross, in a number of forms. There was no badge adopted for VII Corps (the Department of Arkansas) during the war, but a five-pointed star riding on a crescent was approved after the war was over and before the corps was disbanded; no photographic image is included. VIII Corps also had no official corps badge, but the men adopted the six-pointed star, as shown in the image included with the article. The badge for IX Corps was a badge shape with cannon and anchor imposed on it, reflecting the “amphibious operations” of this corps in North Carolina at the start of the war. The last badge presented in the article is for X Corps, a “square with an extended point at each corner” which represents the overhead view of a typical fort “with four bastions.”

The Militia of ’61: U.S. Army Uniforms of the Civil War, Part VIII by Michael J. McAfee (pp. 16-24)
Providing an overview of the history of militia in the United States, the author intends to show that there was no one “militia” in existence at the time of the Civil War. Tracing back to the “common” militia under which the different states could design their own militia system, the reader finds out that this system was in great decline by 1861. However, the “volunteer” militia, which were basically private clubs that were attached to the “common” militia. By the decade prior to the Civil War, states such as Massachusetts and New York tried to instill a regimental spirit by imposing uniforms, but this was largely unsuccessful, as the competitive nature of these groups prevailed. To make things more complicated for the collector, there were also units that had a military air to them, but were not actual militia units. They were more of a social club, many of which would perform as drill or marching societies. Militia uniforms could take three forms: “modern” units would wear variations of the 1851 U.S. Regular Army uniform; “traditional” units would wear the older type of uniform with high collars, tight sleeves, and tailed coats; “specialized” units would have more elaborate uniforms and could include hussars, Highlanders, and Zouaves. The twenty images that accompany the article, including one of Brig. Gen. Benjamin Butler of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in 1861, provide an excellent visual overview of the discussion.

“Up, Alabamians!”: The 4th Alabama Infantry at Manassas by Gregory Starbuck (pp. 25-29)
Eleven images of the men of the 4th Alabama illustrate the account of the first engagement that this unit underwent. Under the command of General Bernard Bee on Henry House Hill , the unit lost 40 killed and 170 wounded. The article recounts the stories of those who survived, such as Private Joe Angell who was knocked unconscious by a cannonball that hit his knapsack, and those who did not, like Colonel Egbert Jones who had undergone the embarrassment of a petition by his men because they had not seen enough action and wanted to redeem himself in battle. It also includes the story of two men who were not supposed to be there. Dr. Samuel Vaughn had been visiting relatives in the 4th when the unit moved out to Manassas from Winchester; he and his servant, James Jefferson (one of the few documented cases of a slave fighting for the Confederacy), accompanied the unit and fought with the regiment in this first frightening step into the Civil War.

Stragglers (p. 30)
Two images—a “before” and “after” pair—show the crew of a ship identified only by a banner in the second image with “O.Y.C.” The first image shows the crew cleaning up for their photograph, wearing undershirts and getting shaved, brushing hair and teeth, and generally in a relaxed mood. The second image shows the same crew with their banner and American flag, posing for their photograph in uniform and looking “shipshape.”

Back Image
1st Lt. James Young of Company K, 4th Alabama who was involved in the fighting of the 4th Alabama at First Manassas.

The complete issue

Vol. VII, No. 5
(32 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
The front of this issue of Military Images features a soldier in kepi with a tintype image in his lap. He was 18 year old Freeman Mason of the 17th Vermont Infantry and the figure on the right in the tintype was his brother Michael. Both of the Mason brothers died in the service of their country.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor notes a change in address for the magazine, and an increase in subscription prices due to rising costs of production and mailing. A preview of the upcoming issues was also outlined, based on popular issues of past issues.

Mail Call (p. 2)
The editor addresses a call for a rebuttal of a review of a publication in the September-October 1985 issue; the author and the reviewer have gone into litigation and the editor feels it best to refrain from comment. The author appears to have fraudulently gained access to the MI mailing list, and the editor requests that any communication be forwarded including the mailing label. A reader also questions the identity of the “oldest continuing military organization” in the U.S.

Passing in Review (pp. 3-4)
The current issue includes three reviews, beginning with The March to the Sea and Beyond by Joseph T. Glatthaar. The work looks at the Western Union soldier through the lens of Sherman’s Atlanta campaign. He looks at their views on the war, the South and slavery, and other issues on a more individual basis and discusses how these views changed during the campaign. The next review is of Touched by Fire: a Photographic Portrait of the Civil War, Volume I edited by William C. Davis. The reviewer does not give this volume very high marks. While nicely produced, it is not a recommended purchase. Cannoneers in Gray by Larry J. Daniel tells the story of the artillery branch of the Army of Tennessee and how these soldiers, at a disadvantage in many different ways, held up against their Northern opponents.

Vignette: Isaac Buswell, A patriot in the 20th N.Y.S.M. by Seward R. Osborne (p. 5)
“Ike” Buswell came from a family grounded in military service and he proved himself to be of the same patriotic cloth. He was taken prisoner in 1862 while taking a small expedition to find out what he could about Confederate secret mail service between Richmond and Fredericksburg, spending time in Libby Prison and Belle Isle. He was paroled, recuperated, promoted, and returned to the 20th only to be wounded on the first day of fighting at Gettysburg. His wounded leg became gangrenous, but he fought to keep his leg, returning once again to the 20th. The end of the war saw Ike Buswell with the rank of captain and part of the forces occupying Richmond at the end of the war.

Brady and Lee – 1866: The history of a photographic session by John O’Brien (pp. 6-8)
Complete with four different versions of on an iconic image, the author describes the history of the 1866 image of Robert E. Lee, the first postwar photograph that was often noted as being taken in Washington, D.C. in 1869. It was an image that Lee and the college he led (now known as Washington and Lee in Lexington, Virginia) wanted in order to show that he had moved on and was taking an active role in Reconstruction Virginia. It contrasts greatly with the 1865 image that Mathew Brady took of Lee on his porch in Richmond immediately after the surrender at Appomattox, also included with the article.

Vignette: Edwin Francis Johnson, a private in the 2nd Louisiana Infantry by Keith Bohannon (p. 9)
One of the most well-known images of the Civil War, the oval portrait of a very young Confederate soldier is often misidentified as belonging to a member of a Georgia regiment, although the kepi he wears bears the pelican insignia of Louisiana. The vignette describes his military career, ending with his death in July 1862 at Malvern Hill in Virginia.

Capt. Abraham Cottrell by Kean Wilcox (pp. 11-15)
He was both a photographer and a soldier, and a series of previously unpublished tintype images found in the effects of Capt. Cottrell have allowed the author to investigate both aspects of this soldier/photographer. Serving with the 8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Cottrell had been appointed as an aid-de-camp to General Isaac Stevens for his exceptional service in South Carolina in 1861. He was injured when his horse fell on him in early 1862, and eventually returned to serve as commander of Company E (“The Elder Zouaves”) of the 8th Michigan at Secessionville, South Carolina; his injuries in that battle, which initially saw him listed as killed in action, led to promotion and eventually a discharge for disability in March 1863. However, Cottrell returned to service later that same year as a lieutenant in the Invalid Corps, later renamed the Veterans Reserve Corps. His organizational abilities with the 16th Regiment of the VRC led to a promotion to captain, and a number of various independent command assignments. The article includes portraits of Cottrell, including some post-war cartes de visite and samples of backmarks he used with his work in Lansing, Michigan. The remaining images are of the four quarter plate tintypes found among Cottrell’s effects which feature a photographer working at some sort of ceremony.

Union Cavalry Carbines by Richard Carlile (pp. 16-26)
More than twenty images make up this informational pictorial article on the weapon that was favored by Union cavalry units. The carbine allowed the cavalry to fight mounted or dismounted, providing another weapon that could be effectively used by cavalry units. The problem was the vast number of different makes of carbine, each requiring a specific type of cartridge for its ammunition. The article discusses the main carbine brands used by the Union in the Civil War, and provides a chart that illustrates 16 different carbine types. The two most commonly used were the Sharps and the Burnside, with the seven-shot Spencer that appeared towards the end of the conflict. The images include many different types, including one of a Gallager; that particular make was popular, but not seen often in photographs.

To the Bitter End: Lt. David Raney, Confederate States Marines by David M. Sullivan (pp. 26-28)
A misidentification of an image led to the investigation of who the subject of the image was: Lt. David Raney, Jr., a native of Apalachicola, Florida, the first commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Confederate States Marine Corps. Serving until the end of the war, he had a wide range of experiences from serving on the flagship of Commodore Tattnall during fighting at Port Royal to serving in the garrison at Drewry’s Point to commanding the Marines on the C.S.S. Tennessee and being captured at Mobile Bay. Raney escaped from prison in New Orleans and returned to Mobile to command Company D. Raney was with a group of his Marines when the C.S.S. Morgan surrendered on May 10, 1865, signing his parole papers for his men and for himself. Raney never did quite recover from the loss of the Confederacy, ending up a recluse in his family home in Apalachicola for the remainder of his life.

Stragglers (pp. 30-31)
Images submitted for inclusion in this issue of Military Images includes two views of the Inaugural Parade for President Taft in March 1909, including a mountain battery unit loaded on mules. An officer of the day from the Connecticut National Guard is also included, as is an 1888 image of the Lisbon, Ohio militia battery. The same gun is on display in the town’s village square.

Back Image
A fully armed Union soldier, including a Model-1859 Sharps carbine.

The complete issue

Vol. VII, No. 4
(32 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
He may look like a Prussian soldier fresh from a victory in the Franco-Prussian War, but the soldier on the cover with the Pickelhaube helmet is Joseph Vance, a member of Company A, Light Artillery, Rhode Island State Militia, taken 1885-1886.

Editor’s Desk (p. 1)
The editor presents two new features with this issue. “The Darkroom” answers reader questions about the technology of imaging, while “Exhibits” lists museum and traveling exhibitions of interest to the readership. He also describes the types of articles that will be forthcoming, and welcomes suggestions as well as images. The editor also reprinted a clearer version of the wounded soldier in his hospital gown from the previous issue’s “Stragglers” feature.

Mail Call (pp. 2-3)
Letters to the editor included a request for help in identifying a shoulder strap uniform device, additional information on images from past issues, and additional responses to the editorial regarding U.S. policy in Nicaragua.

Darkroom (pp. 4-5)
George Hart’s first feature responds to the question regarding the sizes of different types of images. While a standard table is presented in the response, the great variation in sizes such as quarter-plate or ninth-plate images is due to the fact that many photographers cut their own plates. Tintypes are particularly known for this.

Six Sons for the Confederacy: The letters of Robert H. Jones, 22nd Georgia Infantry edited by Keith Bohannon (pp. 6-8)
The eldest of the six Jones brothers from Floyd County, Georgia, Robert H. Jones had organized the “Fireside Defenders” in August 1861. Once organized into the 22nd Georgia Volunteers, the 33 year old Jones was made colonel, two brothers made captain, one chaplain, and two remained privates. All six appear in an image taken in 1861, and although the six fought together at the start of the war, none were still with the 22nd Georgia at war’s end. The letters from Colonel Jones to his wife Lucinthia provide a glimpse into camp life during several different points of the war, from the humorous response of his troops (and body servant) to hearing cannon fire that was not warfare, but a salute to George Washington on his birthday to a more serious account of his unit during the Seven Days. Writing from Leesburg, Virginia, he tells her that “all the Brothers are well” just days prior to Antietam, where his brother Captain Wesley Jones was wounded; taken prisoner, he died from his wounds in October 1862.

“It is with a heavy harte…”: A letter to Private Clark’s sister edited by Richard K. Tibbals (p. 9)
Both men were 24 years old, and both enlisted in Company H, 22nd Indiana Infantry, Post’s Brigade from their homes in Lexington, Indiana. Privates John Clark and John Snodgrass had been friends at home, and remained close in their military lives as well. However, at Stone’s River on December 31, 1862, the fighting between the Union forces and their Confederate attackers split the two. In a letter sent to Private Clark’s sister Margaret, Private John Snodgrass wrote about the fighting that day, how he stayed with his friend as long as he could, and that he had been properly buried in a walnut coffin.

Farewell to Fancy Epaulettes: Philadelphia militia uniforms, 1866-1917 by Philip Katcher (pp. 10-13)
Eight different images accompany this article that describes the many changes seen by the militia of Philadelphia. Focusing on the last three to wear independent volunteer uniforms, the author briefly discusses the histories of the First Troop, Philadelphia Cavalry, the State Fencibles of Philadelphia, and the First Regiment Infantry of Philadelphia and their glorious dress uniforms.

Vignette: A Late Paycheck for Gilbert Montgomery, 4th U.S. Cavalry by William Gladstone (pp. 14-15)
A bit of sleuthing partially answers the questions about the man in the image and the two documents that belonged to him that are the focus of this article. A cook, not a soldier, Gilbert Montgomery was subject to the same procedures as enlisted soldiers. But there was a problem when Gilbert Montgomery was discharged from his five year service in 1869: he was underpaid. He was sent a check to make up the difference, and that check was not cashed. The question remains of why he never took the check to recover the $21.17 he was owed for his service.

Victorian Warriors: A photo survey of uniforms of the National Guard, 1870-1890 by Anthony Gero (pp. 16-24)
Sixteen images accompany the short article that outlines the history of the National Guard in the post-Civil War era. The increased cost of these units combined with a decrease in recruitment during this era led to many states standardizing their National Guard uniforms along federal lines. By the time of the Spanish-American War in 1898, only a few places retained the marvelous Victorian uniforms shown in this article. Featured are bearskins, several M1881 helmets with Prussian-style Pickelhaube, shakos, kepis with plumes, tailed coats, and epaulettes.

Vignette: A Down East Heavy: Rodolphus Tufts, 1st Maine Heavy Artillery by Wendell W. Lang (p. 25)
Enlisting in Company D, 18th Maine Infantry, Rodolphus Tufts was sent with his unit to be part of the permanent defense of Washington in August 1862. In the following January, the unit was reorganized into the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, and expected to remain in their defensive post. In May 1864, following the fighting in the Wilderness, General Grant ordered the “heavies” to reinforce his Army of the Potomac. On June 18, the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery underwent the heaviest loss of a single unit in a single battle: 242 killed, 372 wounded, and 1 missing out of 900 men total. Tufts and the other surviving members of the unit eventually became involved in the more quiet game of siege warfare in the trenches around Petersburg. He was killed in a small skirmish on October 2, 1864 on Squirrel Level Road and buried as an Unknown in Poplar Grove National Cemetery.

Vignette: A Tarheel for the Union: Hugh Hamilton, 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry by John Sickles (p. 27)
The confident soldier in the image walked from him home in Buncombe County, North Carolina through the Cumberland Gap shortly after it was captured by De Courcy’s Union forces in September 1863. Hugh Hamilton was a Unionist and enlisted in Company B of the 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry. Other Tarheel Unionists and “Galvanized Yankees” (Confederates who had been captured, taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, and enlisted to fight) made up the unit. On February 22, 1864, at Wireman’s Mill, Virginia, Hugh Hamilton was captured, although he was initially listed as a deserter for reasons that remain unclear. He was sent to prison camp at Belle Isle in Richmond, where he became ill with bronchitis and hepatitis; he was exchanged and sent to a Union hospital in Annapolis. Eventually recovering most of his health, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in Baltimore. He married there, and eventually returned to North Carolina after the war.

Passing in Review (pp. 28-29)
Six different publications are presented for review in this issues of Military Images. First is The Congressional Medal of Honor: the Names, the Deeds tells the story of the Medal and those who have been awarded it. September Blood: the Battle of Carnifex Ferry by Terry Lowry, who provides a regional history of the fight for Western Virginia at the start of the Civil War. Uniforms of the American Civil War by Philip Haythornthwaite was deemed to be a disappointment by the reviewer. While some errors were seen as small, the implication that the battleflag of the Army of Northern Virginia was used by all Confederate armies was a major flaw. Battle at Balls Bluff by Kim Bernard Holein was reviewed as a comprehensive work that describes the battle, the participants, its significance, relics and period items, and a case study of how preservationists, collectors, and others can work to preserve a historic site. Twenty Million Yankees by Donald Jackson and the editors of Time-Life Books is a volume in the Civil War series of books, and looks at the impact that the Civil War had on everyday life in the North and how those changes led to lasting impact on the Northern economy. Lastly, Great Civil War Heroes and Their Battles was edited by Walton Rawls, and provides an excellent look at the nostalgic publications found in cigarette cards and other sources published in the latter part of the 19th century.

Stragglers (pp. 30-31)
Two different sets of images are presented as “Stragglers” in this issue. The first is of Sergeant Herman L. Small of Company C, 6th Vermont Infantry. Two are portraits of the soldier, who enlisted as a private in October 1861 and left the service as a second lieutenant. His kepi is of particular interest and merited a close-up shot, as it has many non-regulation features attached to it. The other set of images consists of six cartes de visite that provide humorous views of Federal generals and one admiral such as “Little Mac” and “Uncle Sam’s Admirable Porter” in caricature form.

Back Image
A stirring portrait of a Union infantry soldier wearing his full pack (and white gloves). He strikes the pose he would take when preparing for a cavalry advance.