A full-standing portrait CDV of Colonel Richard H. Rush of the legendary 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, famously known across the annals of Civil War cavalry lore as "Rush's Lancers." Features an integrated printed lower margin text block showing an 1861 copyright entry by McAllister & Brother, Philadelphia. The verso features a crisp, blue-ink stamped backmark for prominent Philadelphia photographer F. Gutekunst.

A magnificent portrait of one of the most uniquely armed and visually distinct commanders in the entire Union army. The full-length standing view captures Colonel Richard Henry Rush in an authoritative military pose. He is clad in a double-breasted officer's frock coat accented by clean colonel's shoulder straps, light-colored trousers, an officer's sword belt, and a cavalry officer's sash hanging at his hip. In his left hand, he cradles his cavalry saber. On his head sits a striking and unique Hardee-style hat, sometimes called a "pascal", that featured sides that could be flipped to form a brim. The distinct crossed-sabers cavalry insignia is pinned boldly to the front.

A West Point graduate and personal friend of Major General George B. McClellan, Richard H. Rush was authorized in the autumn of 1861 to raise an elite regiment of horsemen from Philadelphia's upper-class aristocrats and rugged volunteers. At McClellan's direct suggestion - inspired by the formidable exploits of European Polish and British lancers - Rush famously equipped his entire command with custom-made nine-foot Austrian style lances made of Norway fir, tipped with an eleven-inch steel blade. The regiment rode into the early campaigns of the Army of the Potomac carrying these archaic, visually spectacular weapons, terrorizing Confederate pickets who had never encountered a medieval-style lance charge on American soil. The lances were eventually swapped out for traditional carbines and revolvers due to their obvious impracticability. Regardless, the Lancers compiled one of the most elite, bloody combat records of any cavalry unit in the war, fighting with desperate gallantry at Hanover Court House, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the brutal horse duel at Brandy Station. This is a top-tier photograph of their talented Colonel. 

Very good. The albumen print retains outstanding tone and contrast, and the mount is clean and untrimmed. We note a small fleabite at the lower right edge of the print.