Full-length studio albumen CDV. [ca. 1862]. Unmarked mount. Verso bears a pencil collector's inscription: "ALBERT BUXTON / CO H 2ND USSS / WIA GETTYSBURG / KIA WILDERNESS."

A fantastic and rare CDV view of Capt. Albert Buxton (1826-64), Company H, 2nd United States Sharpshooters. A veteran of Col. Berdan’s elite marksman unit, the Vermont-born Buxton was an integral part of the "Green Coats" who specialized in long-range skirmishing and tactical disruption. At Gettysburg, Buxton was wounded during the 2nd USSS’s vital delaying action against Gen. Law’s Alabamians on the slopes of Big Round Top, an effort that bought precious time for the Union to secure the flank. He returned to his company only to be killed in action on 6 May 1864, during the chaotic, close-quarters fighting in the scrub oak thickets of the Wilderness. Buxton's remains rest in a cemetery in his hometown of Londonderry. 

A remarkably relaxed and character-filled study, Buxton is depicted in an informal seated pose, his feet kicked up on a second chair and his slouch hat resting in his lap. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice the diamond-shaped corps badge sewn to the hat. He wears the distinctive dark green frock coat of the Sharpshooters, featuring the specialized hard-rubber buttons designed to prevent sun glint. Notably, his discarded gaiters or heavy boots are visible on the floor beside him. This "off-duty" composition is exceptionally rare for the era and offers a humanizing glimpse into the life of one of the war's most specialized combatants. Taken together, the depth of history and unique nature of the photograph itself make this a top-shelf example, even by the lofty standards of the Carlile collection. 

[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]

Deep, rich tones with excellent clarity in the facial features and uniform details. The mount shows minor age-related toning. A premier, highly unusual identified image of a Berdan Sharpshooter casualty.