Collection of 6 albumen CDVs. Various photographers and locations, circa 1861-1865. Several mounts feature photographer's imprints, period ink inscriptions, and modern research identifications.

This tightly focused regimental collection features six cartes de visite presenting a superb visual record of the officers and staff of the 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The mounts offer an incredible wealth of historical information, featuring several clear period ink signatures from the officers themselves and highly notable publisher backmarks from prominent New York studios such as Gurney, Anson, and Bogardus, alongside a scarce mid-western imprint from Fetter's gallery in Peru, Indiana.

The 20th Indiana Infantry was a legendary, hard-fighting unit in the Eastern Theater, serving in the Third Corps and later the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was heavily engaged in almost every major battle from the Peninsula Campaign to Appomattox, losing a staggering number of men. Most famously, on 2 July 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg, the 20th Indiana fought a desperate, bloody action in the swirling chaos of the Rose Woods and Wheatfield, suffering over 150 casualties. Gathering six identified officers from this single, elite fighting regiment represents a premier archive for even the most advanced collectors. The lot includes:

1. Full-length standing portrait of Lieutenant William O. Sherwood. Sherwood stands confidently in a painted studio camp setting wearing a dark frock coat and a light-colored forage cap with a distinct border. The lower margin features a period ink signature reading: "Lt. Wm. O. Sherwood 20th Ind." The reverse bears the backmark of M.H. Kimball of New York. Sherwood has a deeply compelling service record. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Second Bull Run. After recovering, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. On 2 July 1863, during the 20th Indiana's desperate defense of the Wheatfield at Gettysburg, Sherwood was wounded a second time. Showing immense resilience, he returned to the regiment yet again, earning a promotion to First Lieutenant in 1864 before finally mustering out at the end of his three-year term.

2. Vignetted bust portrait of Captain John F. Thomas. Thomas presents a striking appearance with a long, dark chin beard and mustache, wearing a double-breasted officer's frock coat. The reverse features a simple pencil inscription - "Capt Thomas Co A" - alongside a crisp Anson's New York gallery backmark. Thomas was a true frontline leader who climbed the ranks through sheer survival. He personally led his company through the swirling chaos of Rose Woods at Gettysburg, where the regiment was nearly surrounded. He managed to escape unscathed. 

3. Full-length standing portrait of an unidentified officer. He is captured in a classical studio setting, resting his right hand on the back of a carved wooden chair while holding his dark forage cap in his left hand. He wears a double-breasted frock coat with prominent shoulder straps and light trousers, featuring an R. A. Lewis, New York backmark on the verso.

4. Vignetted bust portrait of Quartermaster Dennis Tuttle. Tuttle features a full, dark beard and wavy hair, wearing a single-breasted officer's coat. The reverse is beautifully inscribed in period ink: "Dennis Tuttle / Qr Master 20th / Ind Vet Vols" featuring a prestigious J. Gurney & Son New York backmark.

5. Vignetted bust portrait of Lieutenant Warren J. Hawk. Hawk presents a clean profile with a prominent mustache, wearing a high-collared frock coat. The lower margin features a period ink inscription reading: "Yours Truly / Warren J. Hawk / Lieut 20th Ind. Vols." Most notably, the reverse features the iconic and highly collectible globe-and-camera backmark of Fetter's gallery in Peru, Indiana.

6. Vignetted bust portrait of Assistant Surgeon Henry C. Grover. Grover is photographed in civilian attire, wearing a dark jacket, white collared shirt, and a dark cravat. The reverse bears period ink inscription, "H. C. Grover, Asst Surgeon 20th Ind," over a crisp Bogardus New York backmark. Grover would have worked tirelessly during engagements like Gettysburg, performing triage and executing field amputations under archaic conditions.

[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]

The images are in good to very good condition. The albumen surfaces exhibit a soft, pleasing tonality with excellent contrast and clarity, beautifully preserving the facial features and ink signatures. There is only very minor surface wear, light age-related fading, and minor edge silvering typical of period photography.