Half-length studio portrait of member of the Berkeley Border Guards. Sixth plate hand-gilt and hand-colored ambrotype. Full "Seated Liberty" thermoplastic case with green velvet pad (Berg 1-67S). 

The militaman is seated wearing his plumed shako, with the "BBG" insignia delicately hand-gilt alongside the wreath and infantry insignia. A shoulder belt across his chest and a rifle at his side, the subject gazes at the camera directly. 

The Berkeley Border Guards was an antebellum Virginia militia company formed near Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), led by miller, distiller, and businessman, John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch (1824-1892). See Lot 264 for the shako and other accoutrement attributed to Nadenbousch. Though this subject remains unidentified, it was very likely he would have joined the ranks of the Confederate Army with his militia comrades. 

Before the war, the Berkeley Border Guards were notably present at the execution of radical abolitionist John Brown. Upon the outbreak of war, most of the regiment was designated as Company D of the 2nd Virginia Infantry, part of the "Stonewall Brigade" led by General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Records indicate, however, that Nadenbousch was commissioned as captain of Company A of the 2nd Virginia. 

At the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), they saw bloody action while driving back three heavy Federal attacks on the final afternoon of the Battle. Many of the men ran out of ammunition and defended their position with bayonets and threw rocks until Longstreet's assault saved the line from attack. Nadenbousch was wounded in the groin during the fracas. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Colonel.

At the Battle of Chancellorsville, Nadenbousch led the regiment, positioned on the right flank of the assault, held in reserve to guard the Pank Road. On the second day, they assaulted Union breastworks and, after a second charge, were successful in taking the Union position. The ferocious fighting resulted in heavy casualties, including a second wound for Nadenbousch. 

They continued in significant action with the Army of Northern Virginia, including the Battle of Gettysburg, where they took part in the assault on Culp's Hill.  Nadenbousch's wounds affected him gravely, and in September 1863, he requested to be relieved of field duties. He was assigned as Post Commander at Staunton, Virginia, but resigned in April 1864 due to "being permanently physically disabled for duty in the field with my regiment." 

Views of pre-war identified militias are exceedingly scarce. 

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