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

Sixth plate ambrotype half portrait featuring John Singleton Mosby seated in a chair. (Some loss of contrast and discoloration to certain areas of image, with few minor abrasions; unsealed.) Housed in a figural Union case, Child in a Tree, Farm Scene [Berg 1-93] (soiling and wear to surface, with some nicking and chipping to edges and corners and some loss to velvet pad). Initials "B.S." scratched into upper right corner of image, possibly referring to the photographer. Provenance: The Family of Joseph Hancock Blackwell, by descent (HA listing). 

Mosby's visage and overall appearance betray the toll of the nearly fatal gunshot wound he received to the stomach on 21 December 1864. Mosby recovered at his family's home near Lynchburg, Virginia after having the bullet extracted, arriving on 3 January 1865. According to his mother's diary, he left to rejoin his men on 25 February. It is during this recovery period that this portrait is believed to have been captured.

William A. Turner's Even More Confederate Faces lists known photographers of Confederates in each state. For Virginia, there are 35 entries, including a "Bransen & Sherer" working in Winchester.
 
One of Mosby's inner circle, Joseph Hancock Blackwell, rose in favor to become Mosby's unofficial chief of staff. His estate, called "Heartland," located near Piedmont, VA, served as the unofficial headquarters of Mosby's rangers for a period during the war.