This magnificent 5-piece collection of CDVs features an elite assembly of highly documented Union officers and combat veterans, primarily tracking the premier, hard-fighting regiments of Massachusetts alongside notable New York cavalry and Maine frontline leadership. Their stories are packed with battlefield history, including multiple Wilderness casualties and a Gettysburg POW. The lot includes:

1. William B. Neff (32nd Massachusetts Infantry - Missing at the Bloody Angle): Full-length standing studio portrait albumen CDV. Philadelphia, PA: J. Cremer & Co., 18 South Eighth Street, [ca. 1862]. A crisp study capturing the young soldier standing proudly next to an ornate, draped studio pedestal on a tiled floor, attired in a civilian or early-state frock coat with distinct sleeve piping. The reverse carries a central J. Cremer & Co. letterpress backmark, heavily enhanced by poignant graphite research tracking his tragic battlefield fate: "of Co K 32 Reg / Mass Vols / Missing May 12 / 1864 / William B Neff." Neff's body was never found. He is presumed killed at Spotsylvania Court House.

2. Colonel Charles Lawrence Peirson (20th Massachusetts Infantry - 2X WIA, Glendale & Wilderness): Vignette bust portrait albumen CDV. Boston, MA: F. L. Lay’s Photographic Atelier, 31 Winter St., [ca. 1862]. A fine, high-contrast study capturing the officer in profile wearing a high-collared uniform coat. The reverse bears a crisp F. L. Lay backmark surmounted by early graphite identification tracking his Harvard-regiment lineage: "Charles Lawrence Peirson / 20TH MASS."

3. Captain George A. Deering (16th Maine Infantry - POW at Gettysburg): Vignette bust portrait albumen CDV. [ca. 1862]. A clean study capturing Deering in a buttoned frock coat with an earnest expression. The reverse is oriented horizontally, bearing clear period and collector graphite data tracking his harrowing capture on the first day of Gettysburg: "George A. Deering / Capt. F Co 16th me / Saco, me. / POW GETTYSBURG / 7-1-1863." Deering was captured during the 16th Maine's legendary stand in the Railroad Cut. 

4. Private Richard Prendergast (1st New York Lincoln Cavalry): Full-length outdoor field view portrait albumen CDV. [ca. 1863]. An extraordinary, highly desirable outdoor camp scene showing Prendergast standing next to a tree trunk in an open clearing. He is outfitted in a cavalry shell jacket, a draped overcoat cape, tall leather riding boots, and rests his hand on the hilt of his cavalry saber. The reverse carries clean graphite identification reading "Richard Prendergast / 1st NY CAVALRY."

5. Lieutenant Henry L. Abbott (20th Massachusetts Infantry - KIA at the Wilderness): Vignette bust portrait albumen CDV. Boston, MA / Newport, RI: J.W. Black, 163 & 173 Wash. St. Boston, [ca. 1862]. A striking study of the brilliant young officer dressed in a civilian jacket and bow tie. The reverse is heavily documented, bearing a rare J.W. Black "Naval Academy, Newport R.I." variant backmark. It features a faint period signature ("M.J. Torrey?) overlaid by historic graphite research tracking Abbott's supreme sacrifice: "Lt. Henry L. Abbott / 20th MASS / KIA Wilderness / 5-6-64." The lower front margin also bears a faint period inscription reading "Major Abbott."

This lot presents a spectacular grouping of high-consequence frontline leaders who bore the absolute brunt of the Eastern Theater's most savage infantry struggles. Chief among them are two officers from the immortal 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the "Harvard Regiment," which sustained some of the highest casualty percentages of the entire war.

Unified by a rare outdoor cavalry field study and premium Boston photographic pedigrees, this 5-CDV lot represents a high-grade archive tailored for advanced collections.

[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]