Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I recently learned that one of my best friends in college is going to have a baby next spring! I really love this picture from the 1890s that I found recently during my travels. Thomas Paine wrote in 1776, "These are the times that try men's souls." While the fate facing the generation who sought independence from England was probably death on the gallows if they failed, today we are experiencing a time full of turmoil and misfortune that none of us ever expected. But there are so many joys in everyday existence that we take for granted. A mouthful of warm food, a gulp of tasty wine or beer, or the smile of a friend. Take a moment today to contemplate the good things in your life, and appreciate them for what they are. These are the things that make us human, and elevate life above the ordinary.

Old Man Winter?

Given the frigid temperatures we have been having lately, I thought this great tintype would fit right in with that theme!! This older gentleman from the Civil War era is definitely dressed for the cold weather. I really like his black bow tie, overcoat and fur covered hat, which certainly look warm. My guess is that this photo was taken somewhere in New England, but there is really no other clue to support my hypothesis. A very nice winter image.

Vermont Boy

Most of the antique images you will come across have nothing to identify the person(s) in the image, or even where it was taken. However, every now and then I find one that tells a story. This really adorable picture of a little boy would be interesting on its own, but the backmark tells us it was taken by "L.G. Burnham & Co., Burlington, VT." Even better, there is a period inscription in pencil which reads: "Harris Powell Prindle aged 5 years July 8, 1878." The parents of young Harris probably had his photo taken on or around his fifth birthday as a memento, just like a family would do today. That got me thinking though, he must have been quite warm in this little outfit if it was July! The material of his matching coat and pants definitely looks like wool to me. I have tried using a magnifying glass to see what seal is on his buttons, but with no success. Well, now I am very curious to find out what happened to young Harris, but that of course will require a bit more research!! Stay tuned.

The Lost Beauty

This tintype of a young woman during the Civil War period has to be one of my very favorite historic images that I have come across over the years. It is special not only for its crispness and extraordinary detail of her dress and cape, but it is a really powerful image in other ways. The way she seems to hover or float over the floor with the gigantic hoopskirt amazes me. What I also find mesmerizing is the piercing gaze but look of innocence and tranquility on her face. The unknown photographer who took this remarkable picture also lightly tinted her cheeks a rosy color after the image was taken, which only adds to the charm this young woman clearly possessed. What makes me sad is that this young lady must have been near and dear to someone's heart, but there is absolutely nothing on the back of the picture to tell us who she was or where she lived. The black line you can see around the woman's figure indicates that the image was originally placed in a brass mat or preserver for a long time, but sometime during its journey, it was taken out of the case. This lost lady probably never could have imagined that 140 years later, her striking photo would survive to be marveled at and preserved by new generations.

Remembering Our Veterans

To me, today is much more than about having an extra day off from work. It is also about remembering the sacrifice and courage of those brave men and women who are serving in the armed forces today, and those who have given their lives "upon the altar of freedom", as Lincoln said, in times past. Both of my grandfathers served in WWII and I also had an ancestor who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg with the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment. The photo I have posted today is of Captain John Murray, who commanded Company D in the original 5th NH, my current reenactment unit. Murray’s remarkable life story is certainly worthy of remembrance, so please excuse the length of this post. It is worth it!

In 1846 at the age of twenty-two John Murray enlisted as a private in the Third U.S. Artillery at Fort Moultrie in Salisbury, North Carolina and fought in all the major battles of the Mexican War. For his valor during the battle of Chapultepec in 1847, Murray was presented with a Certificate of Merit signed by President Millard Fillmore, which is still in the posession of his descandants today. After the Mexican War, Murray’s regiment was stationed at Fort Constitution in New Castle, New Hampshire, where he met his future wife, eighteen year-old Philadelphia Yeaton, with whom he would have three daughters, Margaret, Caroline, and Lavinia. Murray attained the rank of sergeant in the army but obtained his discharge in 1853. After the outbreak of the Civil War in October 1861, he accepted a commission to command Company D of the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers. While Captain Murray must have been excited about the prospect of climbing the ranks of the 5th Regiment, on the morning of December 13, 1862 his mind must have contemplated the faces of his wife Phila and his young daughters Margaret, Caroline, and Lavinia back in New Hampshire. And certainly he was still mourning the premature death of his infant daughter Nella, less than two years old, only a month earlier on November 11. Like countless soldiers who risk their lives today and throughout our nation’s history, Captain Murray could only hope that he would eventually return home to embrace his family once again.

As midday arrived on December 13, Colonel Edward Cross went to his regiment of 249 soldiers and 18 officers and told them “it was to be a bloody strife; to stand firm and fire low; to close on their colors and be steady.” The prospects for victory for the 5th and the rest of the Union Army on that winter day were not promising. They faced the daunting task of dislodging the Confederate army from strong defensive positions located on Marye’s Heights behind the town of Fredericksburg. In order to reach the enemy who were massed in a country lane behind a sturdy stone wall, they also had to cross over a seven hundred yard swath of open ground where there virtually no shelter from the withering enemy fire. After the Irish Brigade was savagely beaten back, it was now the 5th New Hampshire's turn to make their courageous but suicidal attempt to charge the Confederate lines. Almost immediately after they rushed into the open, Colonel Cross was severely wounded and knocked to the ground when an enemy shell burst close to him. Almost simultaneously, a confederate shell struck the rear of the regiment, killing Major Edward Sturtevant of Concord. Command of the 5th NH now passed to Captain John Murray, who continued to lead his men through the maelstrom of hot lead and shrieking iron. The New Hampshire men managed to reach the Stratton house, a lone brick residence that stood only 100 yards from the Confederate lines. As wounded men used the house to shield themselves from the deadly fire, Captain Murray led the remainder of the 5th NH onward towards a high board fence that somehow was still standing despite the horrendous volleys which poured forth from the rifles of the Southerners.

By this point, every member of the Fifth’s color guard had been killed or wounded, and other men raced to raise the state and national colors and carry them on towards the enemy. It was here in a matter of a few moments, according to a letter by regimental chaplain Milo Ransom, that Captain Murray picked up the battered staff and shredded silk flag, shouting “These colors never have and never shall be disgraced!” An instant later, Captain Murray’s brave life ended when a Confederate bullet struck him in the head. With the death of Captain Murray, the 5th NH had advanced as far it could. The battle of Fredericksburg was a devastating blow for the 5th NH, in all some 57 men, many of them experienced and knowledgeable officers, were killed or mortally wounded. One can only imagine the feelings and emotions of Captain Murray’s wife and children in late December when they received the following letter from Colonel Cross describing the fallen officer:
“Certainly he had no superior in my regiment. Captain Murray was one of my best friends. I loved him for his sterling honesty, his frankness, and the dependence which could always be placed in him; for his brave and soldierly character. He fell in the front rank of battle-killed instantly-probably suffering no pain. Accept madame, for yourself and children, my kindest sympathy, and if I can ever be of service to the family of my beloved comrade, do not fail to call on me.”

Captain Murray's body was recovered from the battlefield and today he lies in peace in New Castle, NH, next to his wife and daughter.

Yearbook Photo (Class of 1875?)

I really love this image of what seems to be the students of a one-room school house and their teacher, who is definitely the older woman in the middle of the group. This is one of the very few group shots that I have in my collection, mainly because they are rare, and thus, much more expensive that your average antique image. Actually, I came across this one by accident when I bought an old photo album in Vermont a few years ago. I was so happily surprised to see this one in there! I really love the beaming smile on the face of the teenage girl with the long curls sitting directly behind her teacher on the right. Who said people didn't smile in those days! The woman on the far left, who also appears to be much too old to be a student, is holding some sort of scroll or paper in her hand. Maybe she was a music teacher, hard to say. This picture maybe have been taken in the autumn, certainly before it was warm, as the teacher is wearing a cloak and leather gloves. To think that all these kids wwould have trying to learn at the same time is a bit mind-boggling, but they look content.

Interestingly, this photo was taken by "E.M. Johnson, Photographer, Crown Point, N.Y." Crown Point is directly across from Vermont on Lake Champlain, and during the 1700s was an outpost for French (and then after 1758) British troops. Thanks to the wonders of Google, I was able to discover that this photographer, was actually Elbert Johnson, who fought in the Civil War, and then had a fairly prominent studio for many years. His diary was recently published. To learn more, visit: http://www.penfieldmuseum.org/diary.htm Another one of his images can also be found on the web: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20939975@N04/2462518646/

A Lady from Ohio

One aspect I find particularly interesting about antique images is that they can tell us how people lived as much as who they were. A prime example is the chair in this photo from my collection, which features some amazing embroidery that would have been done all by hand! If we could only see it in color! One can occasionally find chairs like this in antique shops today. This carte de visite must have been taken during the early Civil War, by the size of this unknown young woman's hop skirt and the fact she has very large sleeves but the cuffs hug her wrists tightly. The ruffles on her dress are also quite fancy. From examining this image up close, I have discovered that she has a ring on the third finger of her left hand, which of course suggests that she was married and may have had this photo taken in her finest dress for a soldier away from home. The image was taken by A. Higgins, "Photographist" in Elyria, Ohio. Remarkably, more than 230 regiments were formed from Ohio during the Civil War, numbering more than 300,000 men. More than 6,000 of these brave soldiers fell in battle, so it's possible this young woman became a widow. Elyria is located in the northeast section of that state, in Lorain County, and was founded by Herman Ely, who was actually from Massachusetts. To learn more, follow this link: http://elyriapride.elyria.com/ehistory.htm

I Wanna Hold Your Hand!

Ok, I know this lovely couple didn't listen to the Beatles. They were about a hundred years too early for that, but still this is a very nice tintype in a decorative paper sleeve of a couple who obviously loved each other very much. I chose this photo because last weekend we attended the wedding of two good friends out in Las Vegas! It was fun. What is also very interesting about this picture is the woman's belt around her voluminous hoop skirt, which has a clasp in the shape of a large butterfly. It is really beautiful. I have no idea where this image was taken, since there is no photographer's backmark on the reverse side. However, there is a period inscription which reads: "Eugenie." Perhaps it was the pretty woman's name. Oh well, another mystery that will never be solved.