Studio group portrait albumen CDV. Washington, D.C.: Henry Ulke, 278 Pennsylvania Avenue, 1865. Photographer’s imprint and date to mount verso. Period and research pencil identifications to mount verso read: "Mindil & Staff" and "Bvt. Brig. Gen. George Washington Mindil / Bvt Major Gen / MoH."

This horizontal group study features Brvt. Maj. Gen. George Washington Mindil (seated, right, wearing a large, star-shaped corps badge) surrounded by his staff officers. Captured in 1865 by the prominent Washington, D.C., photographer Henry Ulke, this portrait serves as a definitive visual record of one of the youngest and most accomplished officers in the Union Army.

Mindil earned the Medal of Honor for his "extraordinary heroism" during the Battle of Williamsburg on 5 May 1862. While serving as an aide-de-camp, the young Mindil observed a battalion of the 40th New York (the Mozart Regiment) beginning to break under a heavy Confederate assault. He galloped into the center of the fray, rallied the wavering troops and personally led a countercharge that repelled the enemy and stabilized the Union line. His leadership at Williamsburg was only the beginning of a meteoric career that saw him lead brigades through the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Atlanta campaigns.

Following his heroism in 1862, Mindil rose rapidly through the ranks, eventually commanding the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the 20th Corps during Sherman’s March to the Sea. By the age of 21, he was a brevet brigadier general, making him one of the youngest officers to hold that rank in American history. He finished the war with a brevet to major general for his gallant and meritorious services throughout the conflict.

In his post-war life, Mindil settled in Philadelphia and became a highly successful merchant in the jewelry and diamond trade.

[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 image is in generally excellent condition, featuring strong tonal contrast and sharp detail across the five subjects. The albumen surface is well-preserved with a pleasing light sheen and minimal age-related toning. The mount remains structurally sound with clean edges and a bold, dated photographer’s imprint on the reverse.