American Historical Ephemera & Photography

8 1/4 x 12 1/8 in. silver gelatin photograph (light wear to edges); mounted to 14 x 20 in. cardstock (toned, few creases and tears, fully separated along upper left corner). Signed in pencil on mount "Pennell." General Godfrey stands in his full military uniform, holding his hat in one hand and grasping his sword with the other. Provenance: Descended directly in the family of Edward S. Godfrey.

Edward Settle Godfrey (1843-1932) was born in Kalida, Ohio. At the onset of the Civil War, Godfrey served briefly as a private in Company D of the 21st Ohio Infantry before securing an appointment to West Point in 1863. He graduated in 1867 and was commissioned second lieutenant in the 7th Cavalry, posted to Company G at Fort Harker, Kansas. Godfrey participated in the Washita Campaign against the Cheyenne and was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1868. During the next few years, Godfrey received several promotions and became the only officer of the 7th Cavalry to see action at all major Plains Indians engagements, including the Yellowstone Expedition (1873), the Black Hills Expedition (1874), the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876), and the Battle of Wounded Knee (1890). During the Nez Perce Campaign of 1877, he was severely wounded in the initial cavalry charge on the Snake Creek camp defended by Chief Joseph and his band. He was brevetted major for the action in February 1890 and later, as a captain in 1894, Godfrey was awarded the Medal of Honor for “most distinguished gallantry in action against hostile Nez Perce Indians at Bear Paw Mountain, Montana, 30 September 1877 in leading his command into action where he was severely wounded.” Appointed major of the First Cavalry in December 1896, Godfrey rejoined the 7th Cavalry the following year, where he remained until 1901, when he received two successive promotions and ultimately landed in the Philippines as colonel of the 9th Cavalry. In October 1907, Godfrey ended his forty-year military career as a brigadier general in command of the Department of Missouri.

Joseph Judd Pennell (1866-1922) was a portrait photographer active in Junction City, KS from 1893 until his death in 1922. This photograph has been reproduced many times in books and on souvenirs and post cards.