Great Close Up George Armstrong Custer 1862 Civil War Albumen Photo

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Great Close Up George Armstrong Custer 1862 Civil War Albumen Photo:
$350.00

A rare and interesting albumen Civil War album photograph of George Armstrong Custer seated just outside his tent during the Civil War. While the photographer is not indicated, it appears to have been taken by Alexander Gardner. Gardner\'s large format album (goggle Custer and Antietam and gardner) has a photograph of Lincoln and his generals at Antietam Battlefield, taken on October 3, 1862. Custer is at the extreme right in that image just outside a large field tent. This image being offered may have been taken a short time later in front of the same tent. Custer is seated on his folding field chair in his uniform holding a document of some type. His dog lies at his feet and a hat is also on the ground. This image is contemporaneous with the Civil War when Nason (see below) originally placed it in his album. This image was later published as a stereo view by Taylor & Huntington circa late 1880s. That view is scarce, but it was likely published several decades after this one. The examples of the stereo view that I have seen were not as clean as this image as the glass negative had deteriorated. This album photo measures approximately 3 by 3 inches on its original trimmed thin card stock album mount measuring 3.5 by 3.75 inches. Buyer pays shipping. which can be combined for sales ending within one day of each other. See both scans, one an enlargement showing the detail. Near excellent condition and a fine display item of this iconic western personality.

This is one of the earliest images of Custer, taken about 14 years before his fate was decided at the Battle of the Little Big Horn while commanding the 7th Cavalry against an Indian force.

This is one of about a few remaining Civil War album photographs I have from an album assembled by Charles H. Nason, who signed the album\'s title page (not for sale) as an enlistee in the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry. The photos generally represent the locations of the unit as it moved through battlefield assignments and forts in the southeast during the Civil War. It was assigned throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and other areas over the course of the war. See below for detailed listing of battlefield engagements. The photos were mounted in a scrapbook with most pages in a state of deterioration. Fortunately, most of the photographs were undamaged and preserved with some or all the surrounding mount. Some of the images have Nason\'s manuscript titles or notations under the image. Although the original photographs are not identified as to photographer, they are almost certainly by Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner or their affiliated photographic assistants. Some were also published as stereo views by E. & H. T. Anthony.

The images will be offered individually on . I previously saleed a number of images from this album. That selection included a number of very interesting photos. The images now being offered include rarer subjects such as close-ups of camp life in the Union Army, a fine close-up of George Armstrong Custer, and a few similar items.

INFORMATION ON THE 1st RHODE ISLAND:The regiment was organized between December 1861 and March 1862 atPawtucketas the1st New England Cavalry. Late in that month, the regiment was sent toWashington D.C.and initially assigned to Hatch\'s cavalry brigade inNathaniel Banks\'V Corpsin the Department of the Shenandoah. Throughout the war, the regiment would be a part of many reorganizations of the cavalry, although the majority of its service was with theArmy of the Potomac.

Most of the regiment\'s service in 1862 was in northernVirginia, where it served as scouts to determine enemy movements, as well as foraging for supplies and screening infantry movements. The troopers saw action contestingStonewall Jackson\'s cavalry in the Valley Campaign. They fought in theSecond Bull Run Campaign, as well as many other battles of note, including service in the cavalry actions surrounding theBattle of Fredericksburg.

In 1863, they participated in theChancellorsville Campaign, and played an important role in the opening battle of theGettysburg CampaignatBrandy Station. Shortly thereafter, isolated and alone deep in Confederate territory on a scouting mission, they lost nearly 240 of their 280 remaining men at the June 17 skirmish at Middleburg. The regiment was refitted with new recruits and performed scouting and outpost duty along the upperPotomac Riveruntil September, when they rejoined the Army of the Potomac, participating in theBristoe CampaignandMine Run Campaign.

The following year, the 1st Rhode Island served in the defenses of Washington D.C. before eventually returning to the Shenandoah Valley under the command ofPhilip H. Sheridan. Due to heavy battle losses, the regiment was consolidated to abattalionof four companies on January 1, 1865. They continued serving in the valley for much of the rest of the war before being mustered out atBaltimore, Marylandon August 3, 1865.

During the war, the regiment lost 1 officer and 16 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 2 officers and 77 enlisted men to disease. Hundreds more were wounded or captured. A total of 2,124 different men served in the regiment at various times, although its field strength normally was less than 500 effectives.

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Organized at Pawtucket as 1st New England Cavalry, afterwards designated 1st Rhode Island Cavalry, December 14, 1861, to March 3, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., March 12 and 14, 1862. Attached to Stoneman\'s Cavalry Command, Army of the Potomac, March, 1862. Hatch\'s Cavalry Brigade, Banks\' 5th Corps, and Dept. of the Shenandoah, to May, 1862. Shields\' Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock (3rd Battalion); Geary\'s Command, Dept. of the Rappahannock (1st Battalion), to June, 1862. Bayard\'s Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Stoneman\'s Corps of Observation to December, 1862. Averill\'s Cavalry Brigade, Centre Grand Division, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to January, 1864. Cavalry Brigade, Camp Stoneman, 22nd Army Corps, to May, 1864. Abercrombie\'s Command, Belle Plains, Va., to June, 1864. Reserve Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1864. Headquarters Cavalry Corps, Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to October, 1864. 3rd (Reserve) Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Shenandoah, to March, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, Army Shenandoah, to June, 1865. Middle Dept. to August, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until April. 1862. Moved to Warrenton Junction, Va., April 4. Reconnaissance to Rappahannock River April 16 (3rd Battalion). Warrenton Junction April 16. Reconnaissance to Liberty Church April 16. Occupation of Mt. Jackson April 17 (4 Cos.). Reconnaissance to Rappahannock Crossing April 18 (4 Cos.). Advance to Front Royal May 29. Front Royal May 30 (3rd Battalion). Strasburg June 1. Columbia Bridge April 2. Edenburg June 3. Miller\'s Bridge June 4. New Market June 5. Harrisonburg June 6. Cross Keys June 8. Port Republic and Mountain Road June 9. Scouting on the Rappahannock until August. Reconnaissance to James City July 22-24. Rapidan River August 3-4. Slaughter River August 7. Robinson\'s River August 8. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope\'s Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Stevensburg, Raccoon Ford and Brandy Station August 20. Fords of the Rappahannock August 21-23. Catlett\'s Station August 22. Rappahannock Station August 23. New Baltimore August 27. Gainesville August 28. Bull Run August 30. Centreville, Chantilly and Germantown August 31. Chantilly September 1. White\'s Ford September 15 and October 12. Advance to Falmouth, Va., October 27. Mountsville October 31 (Cos. \"K,\" \"L\" and \"M\"). Hazel Run November 16. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15 (Cos. \"K\" and \"M\"). Expedition to Richards and Ellis Fords December 29-30. Hartwood Church February 25, 1863. Kelly\'s Ford March 17. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 8. Stoneman\'s Raid April 29-May 8. Kelly\'s Ford April 29. Rapidan Station May 1. Ellis Ford May 4. Stevensburg, Beverly Ford and Brandy Station June 9. Near Middleburg and Thoroughfare Gap June 17. Aldie June 18 and 27. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Scouting and outpost duty on Upper Potomac until September. Advance front Rapidan to the Rappahannock September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Rapidan Station September 15. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Near Warrenton October 12. White Sulphur Springs, Culpeper, October 12-13. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Brentsville October 14. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27 Duty in the Defenses of Washington until May. 1864. (3rd Battalion transferred to 1st New Hampshire Cavalry January 5, 1864.) Regiment reported to Gen. Abercrombie at Belle Plain, Va., May 14. Picket duty at Port Conway and Port Royal May 24-30. Bowling Green May 29. Demonstration north of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Malvern Hill July 28. Sheridan\'s Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Shepherdstown August 25-26. Kearneysville August 25. Smithfield August 29. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher\'s Hill and Milford September 21-22. Brown\'s Gap September 24. Waynesboro September 29. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Raid to Gordonsville December 8-28. Jack\'s Shop, near Gordonsville, December 23. Consolidated to a Battalion of 4 Companies January 1, 1865. Sheridan\'s Raid from Winchester February 27-March 3. Waynesboro March 2. Guard prisoners from Waynesboro to Winchester March 3-8. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until June 22. At Monrovia Station and Relay House, Md., until August. Mustered out at Baltimore, Md., August 3, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 16 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 77 Enlisted men by disease. Total 96.