A Pair of CDV Photo Images of Colonel William Goddard, 1st Rhode Island Infantry
Item #: IMG-204
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William Goddard (1825-1907) was a businessman whose family had strong ties to local Rhode Island industry, politics and with Brown University in Providence. He functioned with an active role in the early state militia organization, appointed by the RI Governor to act in an organizing capacity in the months leading up to the War of 1861. Goddard was appointed a Major with the 1st RI Infantry at First Bull Run, and was given the rank of Colonel as aide-de-camp to General Burnside at Fredericksburg, afterwards he was Federally apointed Brevet Lt. Colonel In his post-war years Goddard was appointed Chancellor of Brown University located in Providence, RI from 1888 to 1907. Goddard’s father, William Giles Goddard Brown Class of 1812, was a professor, fellow and trustee of Brown.
This grouping of two images shows William Goddard circa 1861-1863. The first image is the full standing uniform shot of the Major/Colonel in 1861/62, hat on head, holding his sword. The shadows showing in the image are part of the original photographer lighting. Goddard is displaying the full "sideburns” that were made famous by his commanding officer Burnsides. This image is full sized, undamaged and uncut mint. The back mark is ‘Gorham & Co., 12 Steeple St. Providence, R.I.’
The second image is a shoulder photo from the first button up. This is likely a mid-war image. Goddard appears with just a mustache and has the look of being slightly older. The coat appears as maybe civilian, but could also be an officer’s fatigue coat. Both style coats were found in the 1861-1868 period had similar cuts and appearance. The back mark is ‘Manchester Bros. & Angell, Photographing House, 73 Westminster Street, Prov. R.I.’ There is no revenue stamp on this image, so it likely pre-dates 1863. By late 1862 Goddard was no longer functioning in a war role. This image is full sized, lined edge and undamaged. Both images are sized at approximately 2 3/8th by 4 inches tall.
See page 100 of the Time Life Series, Echoes of Glory, Arms and Equipment of the Union (1991) for a review of his uniform and a copy of the same uniform image. At one time I owned Goddard’s entire uniform grouping (3 coats, pants, hat and sash) from the war period. The US Government purchased this CW uniform group in 2004.
The first image copy used in the 1991 Time-Life book series was taken from the US Gov’t photo archives located at Carlisle Barracks. CDV images were sold in multi-image groups. Several original CDVs for the same pose are sometimes known, but are not that common. I purchased this group only a few years ago when I recognized Colonel Goddard in these unmarked Rhode Island images.
CDV Civil War Image of Captain William Emery 25th Mass Inf
Item #: Img-41
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A full size image (2 3/8 by 4 inch) uncut card with a nice 4 button shoulder view of the Captain.
Back mark of "Wires, 104 Main Street, Milford." Mass. Ink identification on rear bottom, 'Yours truly Wm. Emery, Capt. 25th Mass. Vols.' There is some slight ink staining on the rear top, from another image that was likely back-to-back with this one and bled thru. The front of the image is in excellent condition.
William Emery is listed as a 28 carriage maker from Milford when he mustered as a 1st Lieut., Oct 28, 1861. Commissioned Captain April 25, 1862, wounded in action June 3, 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA., mustered out Oct. 20, 1862 as a Captain. This image was most likely taken when the unit was home on month long furlough in the spring of 1864.
A very nice officer's image for a fine man and unit that suffered during one of the North's most intense battles at Cold Harbor. The 25th Mass suffered the war's fourth highest single battle event causalities at Cold Harbor, with approx 73% wounded, captured, or killed.
CDV Civil War Image of Colonel Edwin Upton, 25th Mass Vol. Inf
Item #: Img-42
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A full size CDV image (approx. 2 ½ by 4 inches) uncut card with slightly rounded corners. This is a seated view of Colonel Upton with his kepi, "25th” in infantry horn on front, on the table at his side. He is holding his High Grade Tiffany sword that was presented by the soldiers of the unit when he mustered out of the service.
There is no back mark, but several similar views of this image of Upton were known to have been taken by Moulton in Fitchburg, Mass. Ink identified in Upton’s hand on rear ‘Col Upton, Fitchburg, 25 Mass Vol.’ There is some slight staining on the rear that does slightly bleed thru to the front. There is a small worn spot on the upper right corner front.
Edwin Upton was listed as a 45-year-old resident of Fitchburg, Mass and shown as being a merchant. He was commissioned Colonel of the 25th Mass on September 9th, 1861 when the unit was forming. He resigned from service and was discharged October 23, 1862. Colonel Upton was in charge of the unit in all their early battles in and around Roanoke, VA. Please see the data I have posted on the Colonel and the 25th Mass on my 25th Mass web link on the cottlehill home page.
This is a classic officer’s image for an early war Massachusetts Infantry regiment that fought hard thru the entire war.
Fantastic Quarter Plate Tintype of Full Standing Infantryman
Item #: IMG-106
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This is an exceptional near mint example of a larger quarter plate tintype of the standing Civil War Northern Infantry Soldier with full gear and rifle at his side.
He is outfitted wearing a 9-button frock coat, with a full backpack including the rare blanket roll on top. He has what appears to be a Model 1842 musket determined by the visible top barrel band, ramrod type and bayonet. The US waist belt is plain, while the cross belt strap and eagle plate is also present. The eagle plate has been slightly tinted gold, but an outline of the eagle can be seen. There is also just a slight red tint to his cheeks. His kepi visior has been turned up, tough guy look! Backpack straps and blanket roll can plainly been seen, as can his full boots. When the photo was taken another 2nd soldier’s knee and hands are visible in the lower right corner of the image. More details of this second soldier can be seen when the image is removed from the brass framing (as shown). This is likely the next guy waiting for his turn to have his picture taken.
The image’s overall size is about 3 ¼ inches wide by 4 ¼ inches tall, from outside to outside of the brass framing. The full size quarter plate tin type image has no damage or scratches except for a very small frame rub line on the upper left side.
The image is contained in an excellent condition ‘composition’ hard gutta-percha photo case with floral and border designs. The case is marked as being a "A.P. Critchlow & Co. Daguerreotype Case,…..Hinge Patented Oct. 14, 1856.” The case is near mint with no damage or chips, only minor dirt on the top side from years of sitting. The inside facing dark red velvet is excellent, clean and brightly colored. The outside dimensions of the case are 4 7/8 inches tall by 4 inches wide.
This image’s condition, size, case and content make for an extremely rare offering for the most advanced CW image collector who wants the best.
The apparent CW, or just post-war, CDV image is of a full length standing young soldier or cadet with kepi on small side table. The soldier’s uniform is slightly tinted with blues to the coat and yellow on the buckles and coat trim. The belt and cartridge box sling are white buff, with the belt buckle being the small US (1833) style. I’m not sure if the yellow trim is for a cavalry designation, as he does appear to be wearing a cartridge box.
Card backmark "Good & Stokes/ Photographers, No. 27 East State and 36 Greene Streets, Trenton, NJ.” There are remains of a blue revenue stamp on the rear.
CDV card overall sized at approximately 2 ½ (w) by 4 inches (t).
This is a full size cdv showing an original CW period piece of artwork of a small marching black boy with a broom at ‘parade rest.’
The shoes are typical soldier’s brogans and this image was likely done at some point during the CW to mimic the pro enlistment of black soldier’s and the interest of blacks to support the war effort.
Very slight darkening to the paper stock. Back mark of ‘C.E. Plimpton, E. Main St. Globe Village, Mass.’ As can be seen in the image, there is a small spot on the broom handle and the boy's shirt has been colored purple.
The Civil War’s first free-black enlistment regiments of infantry soldiers came from the state of Massachusetts.
CW Navy Commander CDV B/M New York. A nice mid-chest view of a CW Navy Commander or Lt. Commander. You can see the leaves on the shoulder straps, and a hint of the anchor, but he does have 4 total strips in the sleeve. Lt. Com. has only 2, while the Com. has three. In the photo three strips are the same, while the last one looks slightly different. The cdv is sized at 2 3/8 x 4 inches tall. The image is very clean and clear, so clear you can plainly see the eagle and anchor on the buttons under slight magnification. The image back mark (b/m) is "K.A. Lewis/160 Chatham Street/New York.”
Please see the insignia chart in "American Military Equipage 1851-1872 – Volume III” by Frederick P. Todd copyright 1978, page 544 Fig. 185-f for officers’ rank insignia for the various American Civil War period naval regulations.
CDV full seated Private of Cavalry. He wears a shell coat with enlistment service strips and a neat colored vest. There are glue marks on one edge where it was likely glued into an album and the bottom is cut. B/M: "….Dexter, 60 and 62 Arcade, Providence, R.I.” He is either a member of the CW units for the 1st RI Cav or 1st NE Cavalry?