Collection of 2 studio portrait albumen CDVs. New York: Faris’ Photographic Gallery and C. D. Fredricks & Co., [ca. 1861-3]. Period and research identifications to mount versos. 

This exceptional two-piece lot captures Clifford Thomson, a distinguished cavalry officer whose service spanned the elite 1st New York "Lincoln" Cavalry and leadership in the United States Colored Troops. The first image is a sharp full-length study from Faris’s Broadway gallery, showing Thomson in his officer's frock coat with his hand resting on the hilt of his saber. The brass "1" on his forage cap specifically dates this likeness to his early service with the Lincoln Cavalry. The second image is a fine vignetted bust study by C. D. Fredricks & Co., also on Broadway, providing a closer look at the man who would become one of the cavalry's most reliable couriers.

Thomson earned the Medal of Honor for "extraordinary heroism" during the Battle of Chancellorsville on 2 May 1863. He volunteered to carry critical orders across a battlefield swept by intense Confederate fire. His successful delivery of these dispatches allowed Union forces to coordinate a vital defense during the chaotic collapse of the 11th Corps. Thomson's bravery was cited as instrumental in preventing a total tactical disaster during one of the war's most desperate engagements.

Following his heroism at Chancellorsville, Thomson was commissioned as a major in the 5th United States Colored Cavalry. He served with distinction in the Western Theater, leading his men through the grueling campaigns in Kentucky and Virginia. His leadership of USCT troops during the latter stages of the war demonstrated both his tactical skill and his commitment to the evolving nature of the Union cause.

[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] 

Both images are in generally excellent condition, featuring strong tonal contrast and sharp detail. The albumen surfaces are well-preserved with minimal age-related toning. The mounts remain structurally sound with period-clipped corners. The reverse of the Fredricks mount is a spectacular record, with the dense narrative remaining entirely legible. Together, these images provide a definitive visual and biographical archive of a major Medal of Honor recipient.