Half-length studio portrait albumen CDV. Photographer unidentified, circa 1863-1864. Modern research pencil identifications to mount verso read: "Col. BYRON R. PIERCE / 3rd MICHIGAN INF / WIA GETTYSBURG / 7-2-63 / LEG AMPUTATED."

This striking half-length portrait captures Colonel Byron Root Pierce of the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Pierce poses solemnly, sporting a magnificent, full-flowing beard and wearing a double-breasted officer's frock coat with colonel's shoulder straps. Pinned prominently to his chest is a Third Corps diamond badge. The image is a strong, dark portrait that beautifully highlights his features and uniform. The reverse of the mount  bears modern pencil notations detailing his rank, regiment, and his status as a casualty at the Battle of Gettysburg. 

Byron R. Pierce was a central figure in the fierce fighting at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. Commanding the 3rd Michigan Infantry, his regiment was positioned by General Daniel Sickles in the advanced and highly exposed Peach Orchard line. During the brutal Confederate assaults that shattered the Third Corps, Pierce was severely wounded in the leg.

Interestingly, while the modern inscription on the reverse of the card states that Pierce's leg was amputated, this is a classic historical misconception. The error stems directly from the notoriously ambiguous grammar in the Official Records report filed by his brigade commander, Colonel Regis de Trobriand, which read: "Col. B. R. Pierce, Third Michigan, was wounded in the leg, since amputated, as also Maj. D. M. Jones." De Trobriand actually meant that Major Jones of the 110th Pennsylvania suffered the amputation, not Pierce. Pierce fully recovered from his wound, retained his leg, and returned to the Army of the Potomac. He would eventually earn the rank of Brigadier General and lead a brigade through the Overland Campaign.

Rick recognized the immense gravity of images tied to the Battle of Gettysburg, particularly those of identified officers who led legendary fighting regiments like the 3rd Michigan. A portrait of a unit commander wounded in the infamous Peach Orchard represents the exact type of narrative-rich, museum-quality material that defined the Carlile collection.

[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, Stereographs] [Civil War, Union, Confederate]

The image is in very good condition. The albumen surface exhibits a deep, rich tonality that captures his facial features, the texture of his impressive beard, and his Third Corps badge with excellent clarity.