Collection of 6 studio portrait albumen CDVs. Various locations: including Beeks Bros' (Lafayette), Richards (Philadelphia), Merz & Ulrich, R. A. Lewis and Chas. K. Bill (New York), [ca. 1861-5]. Period ink and pencil identifications to mount versos and rectos read: "Chaplain William C. Porter," "C. Kronberg," "Julius Waldschmidt," "J. W. Shannon," "Hiram Crawford" and "Lieut. J. A. Clark."

The 20th Indiana Infantry was one of the most storied and hard-fighting regiments in the Army of the Potomac. It was one of several units to catch Rick Carlile's eye while he was building his legendary collection, likely due to its staggering combat record and presence at the war's most critical junctures. Recruited primarily from the northern counties of Indiana, the regiment served from the Peninsula to Appomattox, suffering heavy losses in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg and the Wilderness. This lot provides an important look at the regiment's spiritual leadership and company-grade officers.

The lot includes the following six CDVs:

1. Chaplain William C. Porter: A vignetted bust study by Beeks Bros' in Lafayette, Indiana. Porter provided spiritual counsel to the men through the regiment's darkest days, including the high-casualty campaigns of 1863 and 1864.

2. Lieut. C. Kronberg (Co. E): A full-length study by Richards in Philadelphia. Kronberg is shown in his officer's frock coat and forage cap, leaning against an ornate chair. His company was heavily engaged in the defense of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.

3. Julius Waldschmidt: A full-length study by Merz & Ulrich. Waldschmidt is shown in an officer's frock coat with his hand on his sword hilt and his hat resting on a nearby chair. Although identified on the verso as 19th Indiana, he served as a noted officer within the Iron Brigade/3rd Corps circle and was included in Rick's 20th Indiana file. 

4. Major J. W. Shannon: A vignetted bust study with a bold ink signature on the recto identifying him as "J. W. Shannon, Maj 20th Ind Vols." Shannon was a key field officer who helped lead the regiment during the grueling Siege of Petersburg.

5. Lieut. Hiram Crawford: A vignetted bust study by R. A. Lewis. Identified on the verso as a first lieutenant, Crawford represents the veteran company leadership that saw the regiment through the Overland Campaign.

6. Lieut. J. A. Clark: A vignetted bust study by Chas. K. Bill. Clark is shown in profile, a common style for officers wishing to capture a distinguished "martial" likeness.

A compelling feature of this lot is the inclusion of the regimental chaplain, a position highly sought after by collectors for its rarity and the unique perspective it brings to a regimental grouping. The variety of imprints — from the regiment’s home base in Lafayette to the transit hubs of Philadelphia and New York — documents the movement of these Hoosiers as they transitioned from the Western frontier to the premier battlefields of the East.

[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 generally good to excellent condition, featuring strong tonal contrast and sharp detail across the subjects. The albumen surfaces are well-preserved with typical minor age-related toning.