American Historical Ephemera & Photography

A group of CDV portraits identified as officers and soldiers for the 2nd New York Mounted Rifles. Includes three CDV portraits of identified officers: three-quarter length studio portrait of Joseph M. Rushmore in uniform. Lockport, NY: Mr. & Mrs. Graves, n.d. 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 in. albumen CDV on cardstock mount (a few minor spots, wear to mount edges). Photographer's imprint to verso. Inscriptions to verso identify the subject. Rushmore (b.ca 1822) enlisted on 31 October 1863 as a captain and was commissioned into Co. A of the 2nd New York Mounted Rifles the same day. He was promoted to major on 1 August 1864 but succumbed to disease a few weeks later on 17 August.

Half-length seated studio portrait of Joseph A. Briggs in street clothes. Uncredited. 2 1/4 x 3 5/8 in. albumen CDV on cardstock mount (small stained, mount trimmed). Inscriptions to verso identify the subject. Briggs (b. ca 1827) enlisted as a commissary sergeant on 18 February and was mustered into Field & Staff of the 2nd NYMR on the same day. He resigned later that year on 27 August 1864.

Half-length seated studio portrait of James B. N. DeLong in uniform. Lockport, NY: Mr. and Mrs. Graves, n.d. 2 1/4 x 3 5/8 in.
albumen CDV on cardstock mount (excellent tonality, mount corners trimmed). Photographer's imprint to verso. Period ink inscription reads "Eli Kahler." Later pencil inscription identifies the subject as James B.N. DeLong. The same photograph is identified as DeLong in the Civil War Database. DeLong (b. ca 1820) enlisted at Lockport, NY as a first lieutenant on 31 October 1863 and was commissioned into Co. A of the 2nd NYMR on the same day. He was killed in action at Petersburg, VA. Kahler, whose name is written on the verso in a period ink inscription enlisted the same day as DeLong and Rushmore and was a 2nd lieutenant in Company A. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on 5 May 1865 and was mustered out at Petersburg, VA on 10 August 1865.

[With:] Five additional CDV portraits of men tentatively identified to the 2nd NY Mounted Rifled. After mustering, the regiment joined the Army of the Potomac and was engaged in the Richmond Campaign first encountering action at Spotsylvania Court House. It sustained heavy casualties at Cold Harbor and in the assaults on Petersburg.

[Also with:] Vignetted studio portrait of William H. Adriance. Lockport, NY: Penfold's Art Gallery, n.d. 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 in. albumen CDV on cardstock mount (a few stains, mount trimmed). Photographer's imprint to verso. Period inscription identifies the subject and his regiment. 

Adriance (1833-1909) enlisted on 25 April 1861 at Lockport as a sergeant and mustered into Co. C of the 28th New York Infantry on 22 May. He was captured and became a POW at Winchester, VA on 25 May 1862. He was paroled at Aiken's Landing, VA on 13 September 1862 and returned on 19 October the same year.