Vignetted studio bust portrait albumen CDV. New York: R. A. Lewis, 152 Chatham Street, [ca. 1863-5]. Photographer’s imprint to mount verso. Period and research pencil identifications to mount verso read: "Capt Reese Co D / Capt Charles Reese / WIA Gettysburg."

This vignetted bust study captures Capt. Charles Reese, a battle-hardened officer of the 20th Indiana. Posed in his officer's frock coat, Reese is shown with a medal pinned to his breast — likely the Kearny Cross, which was highly prized by the veterans of the 3rd Corps. The portrait was produced by R. A. Lewis in New York, a studio frequently visited by the regiment during its transit or service in the city following the 1863 Draft Riots. The identification on the reverse provides a direct link to his combat sacrifice on the war's most famous battlefield.

Reese earned his place in the regiment's "Iron" legacy during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Serving as captain of Company D, Reese led his men into the chaotic "whirlpool" of the Wheatfield. As the 20th Indiana fought a desperate holding action against Longstreet’s assault, Reese was severely wounded in action. His injury was part of the staggering 50% casualty rate the regiment sustained that afternoon while defending the Union center. His survival and return to command made him a respected figure among the regiment's veteran core.

Following his recovery from the wounds sustained at Gettysburg, Reese returned to the front and continued to lead Company D through the grueling Overland Campaign of 1864. He saw the regiment through the meat-grinder fighting of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, eventually being mustered out as a veteran officer who had served from the regiment's earliest days to the war's final year.

In his post-war life, Reese returned to Indiana, where he remained an active and revered member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a frequent attendee at regimental reunions, often recounting the desperate hours spent in the Wheatfield. Like many of his "Brave Ones" pards, he carried the physical and mental marks of his 3rd Corps service for the rest of his life, personifying the sacrifice of the Hoosier state.

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The image is in generally good to excellent condition, featuring strong tonal contrast and sharp detail in the subject's features and uniform. The albumen surface exhibits typical minor age-related toning and a few very light atmospheric spots consistent with the period. The mount remains structurally sound with clean edges and a bold photographer’s backmark.