Civil War carte-de-visite (CDV) album compiled by 2nd Lt. John H. George (Co. D, 5th Massachusetts “Colored” Cavalry), with portraits of fellow troops of the 1st and 5th Massachusetts Cavalry; presentation inscription to “Rebecca.” [Massachusetts/Maryland], 1864–65.

 

An important and substantial album containing forty-four (44) cartes de visites compiled by John H. George, including twenty-six (26) views of fellow officers from the 5th Massachusetts “Colored” Cavalry and the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry (see inventory list). Front free endpaper inscribed in pencil: “Presented to Rebecca by John on her 21st birth day March 3rd 1865 at Point Lookout Maryland.” Notably, the inscription links the album to the regiment’s guard duty at Point Lookout.

 

The 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry was one of the few African American cavalry regiments raised during the Civil War, organized at Camp Meigs in 1863 - 1864 and led by Colonel Henry S. Russell. The regiment saw its first major action at the Siege of Petersburg in June 1864, where it suffered heavy casualties at Baylor’s Farm and in subsequent assaults, losing both men and officers (including the wounding of Russell and Major Charles Francis Adams Jr.). The regiment was then ordered to Point Lookout, Maryland, to guard Confederate prisoners, before returning to Virginia for the final campaigns of the war, including Appomattox.

 

The regiment's service extended beyond the Confederacy’s surrender, as the 5th was deployed to Texas in mid-1865 to demonstrate Union strength along the Rio Grande during tensions with French forces in Mexico. Disbanded in October 1865, the regiment had endured 123 casualties, mostly due to disease. Its ranks included notable figures, such as Private Prince Romerson, later a Buffalo Soldier; Joshua Dunbar, father of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar; George Lawrence Mason, who became North Carolina’s first Black lawyer; and Lieutenant Daniel H. Chamberlain, the future governor of South Carolina. 

 

John H. George (b. 1842) was a 19-year old spinner from Salem, New Hampshire, who enlisted on 16 September 1861 as a private in Company D of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. George was discharged from the 1st MA Cavalry on 27 September 1864 to receive a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company D of the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. George mustered out of service 31 October 1865 in Clarksville, Texas. Following the war, he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Post #100 in Methuen, MA. 

 

Additional photographs are available upon request. A full list of the portraits is as follows:

 

1. Vignetted bust-length portrait of Col. Henry Sturgis Russell, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (1st Cousin of Robert Gould Shaw).

 

2. Col. H.S. Russell and child. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. Col. Russell in uniform & child at a window.

 

3. Half-length view of Sergt. George D. Odell, Co. D, 1st Mass. Cav., & Co. K, 5th Mass. Cav. Laconia, New Hampshire: W.L. Wilder, late 1863 - early 1864. Imprint to verso. Period ink inscription to verso reads: “Sergt. Geo. D Odell / Lately Promoted / to 1st Lieut in / the 5th Mass Vol / Col. Cavalry.” The photograph was struck while Odell served as a sergeant in Company D of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. He holds his slouch hat with the cavalry insignia and regimental “1” clearly visible, and his sergeant’s chevrons are prominent. Odell was promoted and transferred to the 5th on 12 April 1864, giving a likely date for the view and inscription. 

 

4. Outdoor full-length view of Lt. Abner T. Mallory, Co. E, 2nd Mass. Cav. & Co. A, 5th Mass. Cav. on horseback. [Point Lookout, Maryland]: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. 

 

5. Three-quarter length portrait of Captain Horace B. Welch, Co. F, 2nd Mass. Cav. & Co. C, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. Period ink inscription to verso: “Cap. H. B. Welch / Co. C. 5th Mass Cavl. / Officer of the Day.” Wearing gauntlets, kepi with cavalry insignia, and his officer’s sash tied across his chest, Welch cradles his saber with one arm.

 

6. Vignetted bust-length portrait of soldier, tentatively identified as Charles C. Parsons, Co. E, 1st Mass. Cav. & Co. D, 5th Mass. Cav. [Point Lookout, Maryland]: L.V. Newell. 

 

7. Full-length standing portrait of Lt. Curt Gurdsdorff, Co. L, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. Period red ink inscription to verso: “Lieut Gerdorf / Co. L.” (mount has been bent resulting in two significant creases).

 

8. Vignetted bust-length portrait of Lt. Edward Jarvis Bartlett, Co. A, 4th Mass. Battn. Infantry; Co. F, 44th Mass. Infty.; & Co. E, 5th Mass. Cav. [Point Lookout, Maryland]: N.p., [7 January 1865]. INSCRIBED BY BARTLETT to verso: “Point Lookout - / Jan. 7th 1864 / Yours Truly. E.J. Bartlett / 5th Mass. Cav.” Although the inscription dates the image to 1864, it was almost certainly taken in 1865, and Bartlett had not yet become accustomed to the new year. In January 1864, he was between regiments, not re-enlisting with the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry until 2 October 1864. Prior to his service with the 5th, he served in the 44th Massachusetts Infantry. The cavalry insignia easily visible on his kepi further confirms the 1865 date. 

 

9. Half-length seated view of a soldier holding his kepi, tentatively identified as Andrew Chapman, Co. A, 5th Mass. Cav. Newport, Rhode Island: Black & Case. Imprint to verso. 

 

10. Vignetted bust-length portrait of Captain Francis L. Gilman, Co. L, 5th Mass. Cav. Unmarked. 

 

11. Full-length standing portrait of Surgeon Frederick G. Parker, 5th Mass. Cav. Boston: Prof. S.A. King. Endorsed blue 2-cent revenue stamp to verso. 

 

12. Full-length seated portrait of Lt. George A. Fisher, Co. E, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. INSCRIBED BY FISHER: “Yours truly / Lt Geo. A. Fisher.” Captured in uniform, insignia visible, cradling his saber. 

 

13. Vignetted burst-length portrait tentatively identified as Windsor Hatch, 5th Mass. Cav. [Point Lookout, Maryland]: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso.  

 

14. Vignetted bust-length portrait of Lt. Robert Shaw Oliver, Co. G, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. Oliver (1847 - 1935) was first cousin of Robert Gould Shaw and would later serve as the Assistant Secretary of War under Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft (1903 - 1913). 

 

15. Vignetted bust-length portrait of Patrick Tracy Jackson, Co. A, 4th Mass. Battn. Infantry; Co. D, 1st Mass. Cav.; & Co. I, 5th Mass. Cav. N.p., n.d. Trimmed significantly. 

 

16. Half-length seated portrait of David G.F. Bosworth, Co. D, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. Boston: J.W. Black. Imprint to verso. Period ink inscription to verso: “D.G.F. Bosworth / a cous (?) / Pete Ballow / ‘35 days in the Bosom’”. Seated in uniform, a shield-shaped ID badge is pinned to his inner jacket. 

 

17. Three-quarter length seated portrait of George F. Boole, Co. D, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. Boston: Shurtleff & Hutchinson. Imprint to verso. Ink inscribed to verso: “Geo F. Boole / my Chum / From John H. George”. Seated in uniform, a small circular badge, possibly an ID badge denoting his branch of service, is pinned to Boole's jacket. His kepi rests on the table beside him. 

 

18. Full-length standing portrait of Major Horace N. Weld, 1st Mass. Light Artillery; Co. A & I, 1st Mass. Cav.; & 5th Mass. Cav. Boston: A.F. Chapman / O.F. Baxter. Two imprints to verso. Standing in uniform, major’s straps visible, kepi in hand. 

 

19. Three-quarter length standing portrait in profile of Major General George McClellan. New York: Charles D. Fredericks, [1862?]. Imprint to verso. Pencil identification to mount recto, partially trimmed. A rare and unusual view of General McClellan. Captured in profile, nearly with his back to the lens, he holds a large pair of binoculars. Another copy of the same view is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2013.56). 

 

20. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Captain James L. Wheat, Co. A, 2nd Mass. Cav. & Co. E, 5th Mass. Cav. Boston: Chute. Imprint to verso alongside blue 2-cent revenue stamp. SIGNED “Yours muchly / J.L. Wheat / Capt.” In uniform with captain’s straps visible.

 

21. Vignetted bust-length portrait of a middle aged woman. Boston: W. Shaw Warren. Imprint to verso.

 

22. Vignetted bust-length portrait of Captain Horace B. Welch, Co. F, 2nd Mass. Cav. & Co. C, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. Period red ink inscription to verso reads: “Capt H. B. Welch / Co. “C” / Father of the Regt.” 

 

23. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Capt. Hiram E.W. Clark, Co. E, 2nd Mass. Cav. & Co. G, 5th Mass. Cav. Boston: Fuller & Smith. Endorsed green 3-cent revenue stamp to verso alongside imprint. 

 

24. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Lt. Robert M. Higginson, Co. A, 5th Mass. Cav. Boston: Allen. SIGNED by Higginson to mount recto. Imprint to verso alongside endorsed blue 2-cent stamp. 

 

25. Full-length outdoor seated group portrait of three men. CDV-sized tintype. N.p., n.d. Three unidentified men, including a possible police helmet wearing a badge and custodian helmet.

 

26. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Capt. Albert R. Howe, Co. B, 4th Mass. Battn. Infantry; Co. H, 44th Mass. Infantry; & Co. A, 5th Mass. Cav. Newport, Rhode Island: Black & Case. Imprint and endorsed green 3-cent revenue stamp to verso. Wearing his uniform, Howe is posed with a letter. 

 

27. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Major Zabdiel B. Adams, Co. L, 2nd Mass. Cav. & 5th Mass. Cav. Fitchburg, Massachusetts; J.C. Moulton. Imprint to verso. 

 

28. Half-length portrait of a bearded man. Newburyport, Massachusetts: H.P. Macintosh. Sighed “Yours Truly / Johnson conductor / ERR” to recto. 

 

29. Full-length seated portrait of a woman in a dark dress, tentatively identified as Rebecca. Haverhill, Massachusetts: Lane. Imprint to verso. 

 

30. Full-length seated portrait of William P. Whittier, Co.G, 5th Massachusetts Infantry & Co. D, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. Fitchburg, Massachusetts: J.C. Moulton. Imprint to verso alongside period pencil inscription: “William P. Whittier / my friend & chummy / from John H. George to / Rebecca.”

 

31. Vignetted bust-length portrait of an unidentified man. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso.

 

32. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Lt. John H. George, Co. D, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry & Co. D, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. N.p.: N.p., [1863].  Period ink inscription to verso: “Sergt. John H. George / Co. D. 1st / Mass Cavy. / Please return to / John H. George / Mcthuen / Mass.” Album page with period ink inscription: “1st Sergt John H. George / 1st Mass Cav. Troop A 1863.” Seated in uniform wearing gauntlets. The man who compiled the album. 

 

33. Gem-sized tintype vignetted portrait of an older woman. CDV-sized cardstock frame. Boston: G.P. Lasselle. Paper label affixed to plate verso, remnants of revenue stamp. 

 

34. Vignetted half-length portrait of Lt. Abner T. Mallory, Co. E, 2nd Mass. Cav. & Co. A, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. Period ink inscription to verso: “A.T. Mallory / 1st Lieut. 5th Reg / Mass Vol. Cav.” In uniform with straps visible. 

 

35. Three-quarter length seated portrait of Lt. Robert M. Higginson, Co. A, 5th Mass. Cav. Point Lookout, Maryland: L.V. Newell. Imprint to verso. INSCRIBED BY HIGGINSON to verso: “Ever your / faithful friend / R.M. Higginson / 1st Lt. 5 Mass Cav.” Additional ink inscription by John George: “My tent mate / R M Higginson / J.H. George.”

 

36. Full standing portrait of John H. George, Co. D, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry & Co. D, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. Haverhill, Massachusetts: Judkins. Imprint and green 3-cent revenue stamp to vero. Album page inscribed; “Cap. John H. George. 1st Mass. Cav. Troop A. 1863.” 

 

37. Full standing portrait of John R. Hunt, Co. D, 1st Massachusetts. Taunton, Massachusetts: H.B. King, [1864]. Signed to recto: “Very respectfully Yours / J. R. Hunt”. Period ink inscription to verso: My chum of the old first good fellow / Co. D 1st Mass Cav. / Nov. 14th 1864.” 

 

38. Full standing portrait of George W. Kent, Co. D, 1st Massachusetts. N.p., n.d. Ink inscription to verso: “George W. Kent / familiarly called / Major Kent / from John H. George.” 

 

39. Three-quarter length seated portrait of unidentified man in checkered pants. N.p., n.d.

 

40. CDV-sized tintype studio portrait of unidentified man. 

 

41. Half-length portrait of Dr. Tilton. Newburyport, [Massachusetts]: H.P. Macintosh. Imprint to verso. Signed to recto “Yours Truly / Dr. Tilton M D”

 

42. Bust-length portrait of an unidentified man. Newburyport, [Massachusetts]: E.B. Chase. Imprint to verso.Period ink inscription “E.R.” to mount recto. 

 

43. CDV-sized hand-tinted half-length tintype portrait of unidentified man. Etched to plate “Tuesday morn / Nov. 15th”.

 

44. CDV-sized hand-tinted half-length tintype portrait of elderly woman. Cardstock frame. Album page inscribed “Grandmother Flanders."

 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]

Rear board detached

All pages detached from (present) spine)

Gurdsdorff CDV - (mount has been bent resulting in two significant creases)

Additional photographs available upon request.