American Historical Ephemera and Photography Featuring the Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

24 1/2 x 29 1/4 in. (visible) oil on canvas, housed in 28 1/2 x 33 1/4 in. frame (frame with scratches and wear, small losses to paint scattered across canvas, two abrasions with total loss of paint and small puncture in bottom right quadrant of canvas). Civil War service escutcheon featuring a detailed record of Brevet Brigadier General Brayton Ives' service, including a list of all engagements, attachments, and promotions, the shoulder straps and insignia of his various units and ranks, and the Great Seal of Connecticut at center. Hand-painted depictions of the medals presented to Ives at bottom.

Brayton Ives (1840-1914) was a decorated soldier whose post-war endeavors were equally impressive. Born in Farmington, Connecticut, Ives graduated from Yale University in 1861 before enlisting on 6/21/1861 as 1st lieutenant. He was commissioned into Field & Staff 5th CT Infantry on 7/23/1861 serving as 1st lieutenant and adjutant and later was commissioned into Field & Staff CT 1st Cavalry. HDS records a steady rise in the ranks over the course of Ives's extraordinary four years of service, which culminated in his promotion to Brigadier-General by Brevet on 3/13/1865 on the written recommendation of Gen. Philip Sheridan. The New York Times obituary for Ives published on 23 October 1914 states that in conferring the brevet for gallantry in actions at Ream's Station, Deep Bottom, Five Forks, and Sailor's Creek, General Sheridan said, "This distinction is no gift - you have won it, your gallantry has earned it." At the time of his brevet, 24-year old Ives was one of the youngest Brigadier Generals in the service. In April 1865, Ives commanded General Grant's escort when the Union general went to Appomattox to accept General Lee's surrender. He mustered out 8/2/1865.

Following the war, Ives served as president of the New York Stock Exchange, the Northern Pacific Railway, and the Western National Bank of New York, as director of The Mercantile Trust Company, as chairman of The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, and in multiple other business roles.