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CDV General Jacob G. Lauman

(1813-67) Commissioned as colonel of the 7th Iowa Infantry, on July 11, 1861. He served under Gen. U.S. Grant and was severely wounded while cutting through the Confederate lines at the battle of Belmont, on Nov. 7, 1861. He distinguished himself at the capture of Fort Donelson, where, in command of a brigade of Gen. C.F. Smith's division, he was one of the first to enter the Confederate works. For his gallantry he was appointed brigadier general. At the battle of Shiloh, he commanded a brigade of Gen. Stephen Hurlbut's division, which sustained 458...  

CDV General Alfred T.A. Torbert

(1833-80) Graduated in the West Point class of 1855. On Sept. 16, 1861, he became colonel of the 1st New Jersey Infantry. During the first 3 years of the Civil War, Torbert acted as an infantry commander, fighting in the campaign of 1862 on the Virginia Peninsula, in the campaigns of 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was promoted to brigadier general to rank from Nov. 29, 1862. In 1864, he was assigned to command a cavalry division under Gen. Phil Sheridan. Torbert took part in the several cavalry...  

CDV General Lorenzo Thomas

(1804-75) Graduated in the West Point class of 1823. He served in the campaigns against the Florida Seminoles and in the Mexican War. From 1853 to 1861, he served as chief of staff to the commander-in-chief of the U. S. Army, General Winfield Scott. In August 1861, Thomas became adjutant general of the Union army with rank of brigadier general. In 1863 he organized and raised negro troops in the Military Departments of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Full standing view wearing...  

CDV Colonel John Hammond

5th New York Cavalry

Brevet Brigadier General

(1827-89) Born at Crown Point, N.Y., he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. He enlisted on Sept. 17, 1861, as a captain, and was commissioned into the 5th New York Cavalry. He was promoted to major, Sept. 26, 1862; lieutenant colonel, March 19, 1864; colonel, July 3, 1864; and brevet brigadier general, March 13, 1865. He served as a United States Congressman, 1879-83.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Half view in uniform...  

CDV General Henry W. Halleck

(1815-1872) Graduated 3rd in the West Point class of 1839. An assistant professor while still an undergraduate at the Military Academy, he first worked upon the fortifications of New York Harbor, and in 1844 inspected those of France. Upon his return to the U.S., he wrote a Report on the Means of National Defence, which was published by Congress and won him an invitation from the Lowell Institute of Boston to deliver a series of lectures. These were published as Elements of Military Art and Science, a work which enjoyed wide circulation among soldiers for...  

1862 Surgeon's Certificate

1 1/3 pages, 7 1/2 x 9 1/2, in ink.

Washington, D.C.
Jany. 30th, 1862

Major W.H. Gordon of the 8th Regt. of Infy., U.S.A., having applied for a certificate upon which to forward an application for extension of leave of absence on account of sickness; the undersigned hereby certifies that he has this day examined carefully into the condition of this officer. He furthermore states that he has had the medical care of this officer for the past two months. This officer came under the medical care of the undersigned for great debility & general...  

CDV General James B. McPherson

Killed in Atlanta campaign!

(1828-64) Graduated #1 in the West Point class of 1853, a class which included Philip H. Sheridan and John Bell Hood. Eleven years after their graduation, now Confederate general Hood opposed McPherson before Atlanta, and Hood's battle order would result in the death of his old classmate. By the fall of 1862, McPherson had risen to rank of major general. He saw service at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg. On March 26, 1864, he was given command of the Army of the Tennessee which he led in...  

CDV General John C. Fremont

(1813-90) Known as the "Pathfinder," he played a leading part in the conquest of California. In 1850 he was elected as U.S. Senator from the newly admitted state and in 1856, Fremont was selected as the presidential candidate of the newly formed Republican party. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln appointed him major general in the Regular Army in command of the Department of the West with headquarters at St. Louis. His forces were defeated at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., and he later was sent east to take command of the...  

CDV General William H. French

(1815-81) Graduated in the West Point class of 1837. Fought in the Florida Wars and the Mexican War. Earned the brevets of captain and major for gallantry in Mexico. Appointed brigadier general of volunteers to rank September 28, 1861. He commanded a brigade of the 2nd Corps during the Peninsular campaign, and a division of the corps at Antietam. He also fought in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville and commanded the District of Harpers Ferry during the Gettysburg campaign. French commanded the 3rd Corps during the Mine Run...  

CDV Colonel Norton P. Chipman

Brevet Brigadier General

Judge Advocate during the trial of Andersonville Commandant Henry Wirz

(1836-1924) Born in Union County, Ohio, he attended Washington College, and Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1859. During his professional career he was a lawyer, judge, and U.S. Congressman, 1871-75. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted on May 28, 1861, as a 2nd lieutenant, and was commissioned into the 2nd Iowa Infantry. He was promoted to major, September 23, 1861, and wounded in the thigh on February 15, 1862, during the...  

CDV Colonel Thomas E. Chickering

41st Massachusetts Volunteers

Brevet Brigadier General

Autographed carte de visite

(1824-71) Born in Boston, Mass. He was a 38 year old manufacturer from Boston when he enlisted on September 15, 1862, and was commissioned colonel of the 41st Massachusetts Infantry. (The designation of the regiment was changed to the 3rd Massachusetts Cavalry on June 17, 1863). He was promoted to brevet brigadier general, March 13, 1865, for his distinguished and meritorious Civil War record. Chickering saw action at Baton Rouge, Port Hudson,...  

CDV General George G. Meade

(1815-1872) Graduated in the West Point class of 1835, and won a brevet in the Mexican War. He fought in the 1862 Virginia Peninsular campaign and the Seven Days battles being very severely wounded at Glendale. He recovered in time to see action at 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Elevated to command of the Army of the Potomac, he defeated General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg and went on to fight in all of their battles culminating in the surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Wet plate, albumen carte de...