This premier, historically significant 9-piece lot of CDVs forms a comprehensive collection entirely dedicated to the officers and men of Rhode Island's first volunteer regiments. The assembly features notable command figures, Bull Run veterans, and documented casualties - many of which are hand-signed by the sitter. The lot includes:

1. Full-length standing studio portrait of KIA Colonel John S. Slocum leaning casually against a wooden studio pedestal next to a draped curtain backdrop. He is arrayed in his regulation line uniform, featuring a distinctive pleated flannel blouse secured by a dark leather waist belt, matching dark trousers, and a forage cap held down in his left hand. The reverse is blank except for pencil collector's notes. Slocum served as the original colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry and was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his command during the opening infantry clashes at the First Battle of Bull Run.

2. A full-length standing studio portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Richmond facing forward in a double-breasted officer's frock coat with field rank straps, high boots, and a slouch hat, resting his left hand on his sword hilt. The reverse carries the backmark of E. & H.T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York, from a Brady National Photographic Portrait Gallery negative. Lewis served as an indispensable adjutant on the personal staff of General Ambrose Burnside, coordinating tactical movements through the Carolina Expedition and the Maryland Campaign.

3. A full-length standing portrait of Private Charles M. Smith standing in an uncredited studio beside a wooden parlor chair. He wears a light-colored, long-sleeved camp blouse secured by a leather belt, matching trousers, and an early-war neckerchief. A contemporary ink signature tracks across the lower front mount margin reading "Charles M. Smith / July 13 1861."  Smith mobilized during the critical ninety-day crisis, completing his frontline tour just prior to the regiment's engagement at Bull Run.

4. A full-length standing portrait of Lieutenant George F. Lowe standing at ease with his right hand resting on the hilt of his foot officer's sword. He is attired in a regulation dark officer's frock coat with rank straps and light campaign trousers. The reverse is heavily documented with early ink research reading "Lieut Lowe / 1st R.I.M." Lowe served as a line officer with Company A, directing tactical maneuvers during the chaotic Union flanking operations at Bull Run.

5. A full-length standing portrait of Lieutenant A. H. White standing on a geometric carpet backdrop next to an ornate parlor urn. He is meticulously outfitted in a double-breasted officer's coat with prominent lieutenant shoulder straps, light-colored trousers, and a highly distinct tall dress hat adorned with a sweeping side plume. His left hand rests on his hip near his cartridge box while his right hand grips the hilt of his foot officer's sword. The reverse features a bold, graceful period ink signature reading Lieut A. H. White / 1st R.I.D.M.. White served with distinction as an officer in the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia, navigating the intense combat actions around Matthews Hill.

6. A full-length standing portrait of Private Peter Simpson, Jr. standing against a neutral studio backdrop. He wears the iconic pleated dark blue flannel blouse typical of the early-war Rhode Island volunteers, secured by a standard waist belt, alongside light trousers and his officer's sword held in his left hand. "Simpson" is inscribed in ink across the lower front margin. He stood in the ranks of the 1st Rhode Island, participating in the defense of Washington during the frantic summer of 1861.

7. A full-length standing portrait of KIA Lieutenant John P. Shaw standing in a crisp line uniform, sporting a dark forage cap and line officer shoulder straps, resting his left hand on his sword belt. Verso mount features a bold period ink identification reading "Lieut. John P. Shaw." Shaw served gallantly with the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry until he was killed in action during the brutal, close-quarters fighting in the Wilderness on 5 May 1864.

8. A full-length standing portrait of Lieutenant Duncan A. Pell standing beside a short studio pedestal with his forage cap held in his left hand. He is attired in a dark officer's frock coat and light-bordered lieutenant shoulder straps. Pell served with distinction as an aide-de-camp on the staff of General Burnside and was captured by Confederate forces during high-stakes operations around Bristoe Station.

9. A full-length standing portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph S. Pitman leaning casually against a studio balustrade next to a cascading curtain drape. He is meticulously arrayed in a double-breasted field officer's frock coat with prominent shoulder straps and dark trousers, holding his slouch hat at his side. While the elder Pitman's wartime role was primarily administrative, he is perhaps better known as the premier federal judicial authority in antebellum Rhode Island. 

The state of Rhode Island occupied a legendary position in the opening chapters of the Civil War, rapidly mobilizing well-equipped volunteer regiments under the immediate guidance of Governor William Sprague and Colonel Ambrose Burnside. The unique material culture of these units - typified by the pleated blue flannel blouses of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia and the hard-fighting reputation of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry - makes their associated photographs highly sought after by Civil War image collectors. Rick Carlile, for his part, assembled one of the premiere collections of early Rhode Island CDV photos, of which this is the heart. Finding one Rhode Island image of this nature is tough under any circumstance; the opportunity to immediately own a comprehensive collection of nine is unheard of. 

[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 prints and mounts are in very good condition, presenting fine contrast, warm tones, and unclipped edges, with only minor age-appropriate light handling wear visible. The image of Smith is impacted by the ghost of a paper clip from long ago.