An individual vignette bust portrait CDV of Major Nathaniel Shackford of the 12th New Hampshire Infantry, a combat officer who was wounded three separate times including a near-fatal stand at Gettysburg. Features an original blue-ink 2-cent "Playing Cards" internal revenue stamp affixed to the reverse, hand-cancelled by the artist. The verso also boasts Shackford's crystal-clear period ink signature.

A visually striking and historic portrait of a true frontline survivor from one of the hardest-fighting regiments in the Army of the Potomac. The crisp vignette captures Shackford in a simple officer’s coat, sporting a thick wartime beard and a fierce, steady gaze. The reverse of the card is a spectacular historical document in its own right. It bears a bold, flowing period ink inscription reading: N. Shackford / Maj. 12th N.H. Vols. 

Hailing from Holderness, New Hampshire, Shackford entered the service as a Captain in Company E of the 12th New Hampshire Infantry in August 1862. The regiment quickly found itself thrown into the deepest fights of the Eastern Theater, earning a reputation for unyielding bravery under fire. Shackford received his first wound at Chancellorsville in May 1863, but his true crucible arrived on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Positioned in the center of the Union line near the Klingel Farm, the 12th New Hampshire was shattered by a relentless Confederate assault. During the desperate stand, Shackford was struck simultaneously by three separate minié balls - viciously tearing through his wrist, groin, and lung. Surviving a lung shot was a rarity in Civil War medicine, but Shackford stubbornly pulled through in a field hospital.

Returning to the regiment as a major, he was wounded a third time at Cold Harbor in June 1864, sustaining severe injuries to his elbow and back. Regimental historians fondly recalled Shackford as an officer "always ready for fun," known for his relentless good humor and pranks around camp, alongside a reputation as one of the regiment's fiercest fighting targets. Identified portraits of Gettysburg casualties are both scarce and desirable, making this a premier specimen for the advanced Civil War image collector.

Excellent. Both the albumen print and mount are in nearly undisturbed condition, with only very minor corner wear and a faint stain on the lower right verso.