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

Approx. height 4 3/4 in. blue wool kepi with leather visor and chin strap with 16 mm brass New York state "Excelsior" buttons, leather sweatband, and brown cotton lining (mothing, occasional small holes at crown, lining intact, some wear to sweatband); height 1 in. brass company letter "H" above height 1 in. brass regimental designation "110" (some tarnish). Underside of sweatband initialed "S.B."

[With:] Ninth plate ruby ambrotype of Robert Burnside as a private. (Clarity near excellent, light wear to edges.) Housed in patriotic Union case, Union Camp Scene [Berg 1-130] (some wear to edges). -- 2 albumen photographs, 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 in., on cardstock mounts, the first made from the ambrotype showing Robert Burnside, with sergeant chevrons added to his sleeves, the second showing his brother Samuel Burnside dressed in his infantry frock coat (each with scattered spotting to image and mount). Each with identification on verso and applied paper note outlining Robert and Samuel Burnsides' military service. 

Accompanied by 5 December 1997 photocopied letter from Stephen B. Rogers, dealer in antique arms and Americana, indicating that the group was purchased at an estate auction held at the Burnside family farm on 25 May 1991. He also notes that the accompanying photographs include identifications provided by the family. 

Samuel and Robert Burnside enlisted as privates on 8/12/1862 at Oswego, NY and were both mustered into Company H, 110th New York Infantry on 8/15/1862. Samuel would fall ill with disease and die just two months later on 25 October 1862 in Baltimore, MD. Robert outlived his brother by several months, being promoted to corporal 2/19/1863 and sergeant 5/19/1863 before succumbing to disease at a general hospital in Baton Rouge, LA, on 8/25/1863. A superb group of items identified to two brothers who never returned home.