American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

Full standing portrait of General Michael Corcoran in full uniform. New York: E. Anthony, n.d. (light discoloration and one inked line to print; soiling and wear to mount). Identified in pencil on mount recto and verso. Corcoran stands in a studio with his hand resting on a covered table to his right. -- BRADY, Mathew, photographer. Standing portrait of Julius H. Stahel-Számwald in full uniform, holding his sword down to one side. New York: E. Anthony, 1862 (some spotting to print; toning to mount). Copyrighted by Brady on mount recto. Verso bears pencil identification and E. Anthony imprint with Brady negative credit. -- Together, 2 CDVs, each approx. 2 1/8 x 3 1/4 in., on cardstock mounts. 

Michael Corcoran (1827-1863) was born in Carrowkeel, Ireland, on 21 September 1827. His father, a captain in the British Army, gave him a good education, and procured for him a commission in the Irish constabulary in 1845. This he resigned, being unwilling to oppress his people and in 1849 he emigrated to America, locating in New York. He joined the militia there as a private, rose through the grades to the rank of colonel, 1859, and when Prince Albert of Wales visited this country, he refused to order out the regiment, the 69th, to honor to the prince. For this he was subjected to trial by court-martial, that was still pending when the Civil War began. Upon the first call for troops, he led the 69th to the seat of war, and, being ordered to Virginia built Fort Corcoran on Arlington Heights, and then led it into the battle of Bull Run, where he fought with impetuous gallantry. He was wounded and captured, and spent nearly a year in various Confederate prisons, refusing to accept a release conditional upon his promise not to take up arms again in defense of the Union. Upon being exchanged on 15 August 1862, he was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers to date from 21 July 1861, and organized the Corcoran legion, which he commanded in the battles on the James, near Suffolk, in April 1863, and in checking the advance of the Confederates upon Norfolk. The legion was attached to the Army of the Potomac in August 1863, and General Corcoran was killed by the falling of his horse upon him while riding in company with Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher on 22 December 1863.

Julius H. Stahel-Számwald (1825–1912) was a Hungarian soldier who emigrated to the United States and became a Union general in the Civil War. After the war, he served as a US diplomat, a mining engineer, and a life insurance company executive. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at the Battle of Piedmont in 1864.