American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Standing portrait of William H. Hughes wearing a distinctive Ohio cavalry shell jacket made unusual with additional lines of yellow branch of service chest braid. He holds an imported musket to one side and stands before a painted backdrop. (Image a bit dark, with some chemical haloing along edge; unsealed.) Housed in a patriotic pressed paper case with gilt flag motif on front cover (surface wear). 

[With:] 4 x 5 3/4 in. cabinet photograph on cardstock mount (significant soiling, spotting, wear to mount edges and corners). Memphis, MO: J. M. Simington, n.d. A post-war William H. Hughes poses with his wife and two children. 

William H. Hughes of the Union Light Guard (aka 7th Independent Company Ohio Volunteer Cavalry) enlisted as a private on 15 December 1863. The 7th Independent Company had been specially recruited by Ohio Governor Todd as President Lincoln's bodyguard, comprising one man from each Ohio county.  The company mustered in at Columbus, Ohio on 17 December 1863 and reported to the Secretary of War in Washington, DC later that month. The company served exclusively in Washington and environs "with strong details being placed near the President's house, the Treasury Building, (and) the War Office."  Hughes must have personally come into contact with Lincoln before mustering out on 9 September 1865.