American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

2 CDVs, including: Standing view of Noah Farnham in uniform. He appears to wear a black mourning band in honor of Elmer Ellsworth, the first conspicuous casualty of the Civil War and the first Union officer to die. New York: Brady, photographer, E. Anthony, publisher, 1861. -- Standing view of Elmer Ellsworth. New York: Brady, photographer, 1861. -- Together, 2 CDVs.

Noah L. Farnham (1829-1861), a native of New Haven, CT, enlisted on 4/17/1861 at New York City, NY as a first lieutenant and was commissioned into Co. B, 7th NY State Militia on 4/26/1861. He was discharged for promotion on 5/10/1861 and commissioned into Field & Staff, 11th NY Infantry, serving as second-in-command to Elmer Ellsworth. Following the death of Ellsworth, Lieutenant Colonel Farnham was the obvious choice to take charge of the 11th NY Volunteers. His appointment was graded as temporary, he was not commissioned as the regiment’s colonel and remained at rank while in command.

Farnham became one of the earliest casualties of the Civil War to succumb to a traumatic brain injury. He was shot in the head at the First Battle of Bull Run on 7/21/1861, and when surgeons examined the wound they believed it to be relatively minor. However, their observations failed to reveal the fatal damage to Furnham's brain. He subsequently died of wounds on 8/14/1861 at Bull Run, VA.