RARE GROUP PORTRAIT OF IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE OFFICERS (ONE NAVAL OFFICER) ASSOCIATED WITH LOUISIANA AND NEW ORLEANS’ WASHINGTON ARTILLERY

Albumen print, carte-de-visite-type mount (but larger than standard CDV), 3 11/16 x 5 in. (9.4 x 12.7 cm) including narrow border; housed in the original wooden frame with the contemporary backboard bearing ink identifications of the five sitters (four standing, one seated). Three appear in Confederate Army officer uniforms, one in Confederate Navy uniform; the remaining standing figure likely in civilian dress (see below).

Inscribed identifications (period ink, backboard; listed top-to-bottom corresponding to left-to-right in the view): Lt. Chas. Leverich, C.S.A.; Abe. I. Leverich, C.S.A.; Palfrey; Lt. James McConnel, C.S.A.; Sam. P. Blanc (C.S. Navy).

Possible/likely attributions:

Charles Edward Leverich (1834-1880): Washington Artillery of New Orleans (2nd Company); later commissioned to horse artillery service (Huwald’s/Ramsay’s) in the Western Theater. He prominently wears at his left breast the Washington Artillery badge, belt and crossed cannon suspending a tiger’s head.

Abram Inskeep Leverich (1836-1896): Washington Artillery (5th Company): enlisted 1862; 1st Sgt 7 Apr. 1862; 2nd Lt 24 July 1862; section commander at Murfreesboro; fought at Chickamauga; wounded at Kennesaw (light) and severely wounded at Spanish Fort (Mobile defenses), 5 Apr. 1865; captured at the fall of Mobile.

“Palfrey”: (surname only on backboard): plausibly Lt. William Palfrey, 1st Louisiana Artillery (Co. A; later Cos. D, H); 2nd Lt May 1862; 1st Lt (rank from 22 Nov. 1862); captured at Vicksburg, exchanged, and transferred to Gen. Shoup’s staff at Mobile as AAAG (Jan. 1864). His open coat and darker tone may read civilian at first glance; uniform nuances and period tonal shifts support a military identification.

Lt. James McConnel (McConnell), C.S.A., 1st Louisiana Artillery: (Co. E, appt. 3 Mar. 1863); captured at Vicksburg; exchanged; on detached service at Mobile from Oct. 1863; Assistant Provost Marshal there; paroled 10 May 1865 as part of Lt. Gen. Taylor’s surrender, signing as “2nd Lt 1st La. Arty & Actg Judge Advocate.”

Lt. Samuel P. Blanc, C.S. Navy, Louisiana: Acting Midshipman 29 Aug. 1861; Master (Provisional Navy) 2 June 1864. Service on CSS McRae (New Orleans Station; Head of Passes, Forts Jackson & St. Philip), Baltic, Savannah, Patrick Henry; 1864 on Chattahoochee, Nashville, Sampson, Hornet (torpedo launch). In April 1865 aboard CSS Webb in Charles Read’s bold breakout; captured and interned at Fort Warren; released 13 June 1865 on oath.

A rare studio portrait of Confederate officers associated with Louisiana, including four Army officers and a Navy officer. The configuration (two seated/standing variants), the presence of mixed Army and Navy dress, and the Louisiana/Mobile nexus suggest a Gulf-coast context late in the war. The image retains its original frame and period-ink identifications.

Because Charles Leverich’s commission postdates July 1863, and multiple sitters show subsequent assignments in Mobile after exchanges from Vicksburg, the photograph likely dates late 1863-1865, plausibly in a Gulf-coast studio (the strong Mobile connections are notable). The Washington Artillery badge worn by Charles, despite later service, accentuates his New Orleans identity within a circle of Louisiana officers whose wartime paths converged around Vicksburg and Mobile.

Provenance: From the collection of the late Bill Turner, noted Virginia collector and dealer; thence by descent.

[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]