This 4-piece collection of CDVs features a heavy-hitting roster of high-ranking leaders from the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, dominated by severe combat casualties and survivors of some of the regiment's most intense engagements. The lot includes:

1. Trooper Lewis Munger: Full-length standing studio portrait albumen CDV. [ca. 1863]. Captures the trooper in his shell jacket and riding boots leaning on his light cavalry sabre next to a classic studio fluted column. The reverse features a bold period ink presentation signature reading "Yours, Trully [sic] / Lewis Munger / Co. F, 2 Mass Cav" alongside a poignant modern collector notation tracking his combat experience: "WIA, Winchester / 9/19/1864."

2. Lieutenant Hiram E. Clark: Vignette bust portrait albumen CDV. Boston, MA: Higgins & Co., [ca. 1863]. Documents Clark in an officer's frock coat with a prominent mustache and goatee. The reverse bears a crisp central circular stamp for Higgins & Co., 109 Washington Street, Boston, surmounted by a pencil inscription identifying him as "Lt. Hiram E. Clark / Co. E 2nd Mass Cav." The lower margin records his wounding in action: "WIA, Baylor's, Farm."

3. Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Russell: Seated bust portrait albumen CDV. Boston, MA: A. Sonrel, 46 School Street, [ca. 1863]. A striking, artistic profile study of Russell in a civilian coat holding his gauntlets and his officer's forage cap, which displays prominent crossed-sabers brass insignia. The reverse bears a clean Sonrel backmark overlaid with early research identifying him as "Lt. Col. / Henry S. Russell / 2nd Mass. Cav." Bottom notations track his hazardous early-war and regimental service: "POW, Cedar Mountain / WIA, Baylor's Farm."

2. Major Zabdiel B. Adams: Seated three-quarter length portrait albumen CDV. Fitchburg, MA: J.C. Moulton, 159 Main Street, [ca. 1864]. A commanding portrait of the officer and famed military surgeon seated in a carved parlor chair, attired in a dark officer frock coat with single-bar shoulder straps. The reverse features an ornate Moulton backmark enclosing meticulous historical data: "Zabdiel B. Adams / Capt., Co. L, 2 Mass. Cav. / Major, 5 Mass. Cav. / WIA Baylor's Farm, VA, 6/15/1864." 

This lot stands as an operational cross-section of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, focusing heavily on the bloody opening moves of the June 1864 Petersburg Campaign. On 15 June 1864, during the assault on Baylor's Farm along the defenses of Petersburg, the regiment suffered punishing losses. Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Russell (who had previously survived capture at Cedar Mountain while with the 2nd Mass Infantry) was severely wounded here, as was Lieutenant Hiram E. Clark and Captain Zabdiel B. Adams. Adams, a brilliant Harvard-trained physician turned line officer, was so severely wounded in the arm at Baylor's Farm that he was captured, later escaped, and was promoted to Major of the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. Compounding this narrative of sacrifice, Trooper Lewis Munger's portrait documents a veteran rider who was later wounded in action during Sheridan's sweeping 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign at the Battle of Opequon (Third Winchester).

This grouping is highly desirable because it features a premium, research-rich officer roster from an elite cavalry command, dominated by an unbroken chain of severe combat casualties from the critical June 1864 Petersburg breakout.

[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]

Both images and mounts are in very good condition. The albumen prints display strong contrast and minimal localized surface aging. The mounts are strong, with no trimming and only expected wear commensurate with age.