Vignetted bust albumen CDV. Brooklyn, New York: E. M. Douglass, 321 Fulton St. [ca. 1862]. Verso bears a Douglass gallery backmark and collector research identifying the subject as "Major James Cromwell / 124th NY / KIA—Gettysburg / 7-2-1863."

A wealthy and socially prominent resident of Cornwall, New York, James Cromwell was among the first to help raise the "Orange Blossoms." On the afternoon of 2 July 1863, at Gettysburg, the regiment faced a blistering assault by Texan and Georgian troops near Devil’s Den. Cromwell famously requested permission from Colonel A.V.H. Ellis to charge on horseback. Though the act was tactically risky, Cromwell insisted it was necessary to inspire the men. While leading the countercharge, he was shot through the heart and killed instantly, just moments before Ellis also fell. Cromwell's bravery and death became one of the most enduring legends of the Hudson Valley’s role in the battle.

Cromwell is depicted by Douglass in his major’s frock coat, with his gaze directed slightly away from the camera. The image preserves the youthful, refined appearance of a man who left a life of luxury to lead his neighbors into the war's most desperate combat. Interestingly, Douglass's backmark is found on several distinct poses of Cromwell, including a well-known image of him with a sword. The photo likely originates from Brooklyn since the prosperous Cromwell family had substantial business interests there. 

Portraits of Cromwell are highly sought after, as he remains the primary symbol of the Orange Blossoms's ultimate sacrifice.

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Soft tonal quality typical of vignetted albumen prints of the period. The mount shows light, even toning and a crisp gallery backmark.