A vignetted bust albumen CDV. New York: Geo. G. Rockwood, 839 Broadway. [ca. 1862–1864]. Recto features a vignetted portrait within a double-border mount. Verso bears a prominent Rockwood gallery backmark and modern collector research identifying the subject as Captain William A. Jackson, Co. K, 124th NY (Killed at Petersburg).

Jackson was a primary officer of the "Orange Blossoms," serving through the regiment’s most grueling engagements from Chancellorsville to the Wilderness. His service culminated during the Siege of Petersburg. On June 18, 1864, during the initial assaults on the Confederate works, Jackson was killed in action. His death occurred during a period of intense attrition for the 124th New York’s officer corps, which had already been decimated at Gettysburg the previous summer.

The carte itself is a refined, vignetted study by premier New York City photographer George Rockwood. Jackson, of whom very few photos survive, is depicted in his officer’s frock coat, the image capturing the resolute expression of a young commander who would go on to pay the ultimate price in defense of the Union. 

[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, Stereographs] [Civil War, Union, Confederate]

Soft tonal quality typical of Rockwood’s vignetted style. The mount shows some age-related foxing and light edge wear. A very tough 124th NY carte to locate.