American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Standing portrait of General George B. McClellan wearing a 9-button double-breasted frock coat and resting his hand on the fringed studio chair next to him. New York: C.D. Fredericks & Co., [1864]. Verso bears pictorial photographer's imprint, partial ink identification, and 2-cent revenue stamp handstamped with date. Recto also with Fredericks' imprint. -- Standing portrait of Colonel Warner L. Vestal of the 53rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, wearing a double-breasted frock coat with XVII Army Corps badge. N.p.: n.p., [1865] (adhesive residue and paper loss to lower edge). Verso bears ink identification and 2-cent revenue stamp initialed and dated. -- Seated half portrait of First Lieutenant James A. Engleman wearing partly unbuttoned frock coat with first lieutenant's shoulder straps. Indianapolis, IN: Swain Brothers, [1865] (upper edge clipped). Verso twice identifies Engleman as a captain and bears a 2-cent revenue stamp initialed and dated. -- Together, 3 CDVs, each approx. 2 1/8 x 3 1/2 in. or smaller, on cardstock mounts. Condition issues generally fair, with clipped corners, spots of discoloration, soiling, and wear to edges and corners.

The 53rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in January and February of 1862 and spent its first months after mustering in guarding prisoners in Indianapolis. It engaged in the Siege of Corinth, the Battle of Hatchie's Bridge (where it crossed the bridge to charge enemy lines), the Siege of Vicksburg, the Battles of Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesborough, and Bentonville, and multiple campaigns along the way including Sherman's March to the Sea. The regiment spent some parts of the war as part of the 3rd brigade, 4th Division, XVII Corps.