American Historical Ephemera and Photography

CDV on cardstock mount (significant toning, occasional spotting, possible clipping to edges of print; mount with occasional spotting, wear to corners, and possible clipping). Mount recto bears partial Brady imprint (possibly trimmed). Verso bears period ink identification: "Col. E. E. Cross. 5th N. H. V." along with modern pencil inscriptions. Cross is featured here seated, wearing his colonel's uniform and sporting his characteristic mustache and full beard.

Edward E. Cross (1832-1863) worked as a reporter for multiple newspapers including the Cincinnati Times, and started the Arizona Territory's first newspaper, the Weekly Arizonian when he moved out west. He also did some scouting work for the US Army during various expeditions against the Apaches prior to the Civil War. When the war began, Cross was commissioned colonel of the 5th New Hampshire Volunteers on 27 August 1861. The 5th would suffer the highest casualties of any Union regiment during the war, and Cross himself was wounded three times, at Fair Oaks, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, before sustaining a mortal wound at Gettysburg on 2 July 1863. He was leading a brigade in the 1st Division, II Corps, which was sent to help stabilize the left flank. Cross's brigade entered the Wheatfield, and during the fighting, Cross was wounded near the Rose Woods. He succumbed to his injuries the following day at a field hospital.