New York 50th Engineers CDV Collection

Lot of 14 CDVs of officers from the 50th NY Engineers, comprising:

CDV vignetted portrait of Charles B. Stuart, his Colonel shoulder straps visible. Brady: Washington, [1862]. Presentation inscription on verso: "To Captain Wesley Brainard / "Stuart's Engineer Regiment" / from his friend / Colonel Chas. B. Stuart / July, 1862." Stuart enlisted at 47 on July 26, 1861, at Washington DC and was commissioned as a Colonel into Field & Staff of the 50th NY Engineers on August 15, 1861. He resigned on June 3, 1863.

CDV studio portrait of an officer identified as Capt. Bolton O'Grady. He wears a feathered Hardee hat holding his unsheathed sword. Brady: Washington, n.d. Brady imprint on recto, pencil inscription identifying the subject on verso. O'Grady enlisted at 27 on Aug. 21, 1861, at Syracuse and was commissioned as a Captain into Co. D of the NY 50th Engineers. He resigned on April 14, 1863.

CDV studio portrait of William Watts Folwell, with a presentation inscription signed by Folwell on verso. He stands with a hand on one hip holding his hat with his Captain shoulder straps visible. Powelson: Rochester and Buffalo NY, n.d., ca 1863. 58 State St. and 230 Main St. imprint on verso. Folwell enlisted at 29 on Feb. 13, 1862, at Washington DC and was commissioned the same day as a 1st Lieut. into Co. G of 50th NY Engineers. He was promoted to Captain of Co. I on Dec. 27, 1862, and again to Major of Field & Staff on Feb. 1, 1865. Mustered out on June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, VA. Portrait taken as a Captain.

CDV studio portrait of Ira Spaulding (1818-1875) who stands in uniform with his hat in has next to a chair. Porter: Oneida, NY. Imprint on verso with traces of pencil inscription identifying the subject. Enlisted at 43 on August 4, 1861, at Niagra Falls, NY, and commissioned as a Captain into Co. # of the 50th NY Engineers on Aug. 29, 1861. He was promoted several times: Major on Oct. 14, 1862, Lieut. Colonel on Jan. 1, 1864, Colonel by brevet on April 9, 1865, and Brigadier-General by brevet on April 9, 1865. Mustered out on June 14, 1865.

CDV studio portrait of Thomas J. Finlan, standing with his arm and cap resting on a pillar, his Sergeant-Major chevrons visible. Presentation inscription signed by Finlan on verso. Bell & Brothers: Washington, n.d. 480 Pennsylvania Ave. imprint on verso. Enlisted at 18 on Aug. 7, 1861, at Elmira, NY, and mustered into Co. B of the 50th NY Engineers as a private. Promoted to corporal on July 20, 1862, and at some point to Sergeant-Major, his chevrons visible here and he identifies himself as such on the verso. Discharged on Dec. 5, 1863, at Washington DC.

CDV studio portrait of Asa Palmer standing in uniform his cat, sash, and sword all visible. R.W. Addis/McClees Gallery: Washington, n.d. 308 Pennsylvania Ave. imprint on verso. Pencil inscription identifying subject on verso. Palmer enlisted at 26 on Aug. 9, 1861, at Fayetteville, NY, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieut. into Co. D of the 50th NY Engineeson Sept. 17, 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lieut. on May 31, 1862, and to Captain on April 15, 1863. Mustered out on Nov. 5, 1864.

CDV studio portrait of Michael H. McGrath in uniform with knee-high boots. No imprint. Ink inscription on verso identifying the subject. Enlisted on July 6, 1862, at Elmira, NY, and commissioned as a 1st Lieut. into Co. F of the 50th NY Engineers on the same day. Promoted to Captain on Oct. 14, 1862, and mustered out on June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, VA.

CDV studio portrait of Edward C. Pritchett in his chaplain's uniform next to a neo-gothic chair. No imprint. Presentation inscription by Pritchett on verso. Pritchett enlisted on August 24, 1861, at Genoa, NY, and commissioned as a Chaplain into Field & Staff of the 50th NY Engineers on Sept. 10, 1861. He mustered out at Elmira on Sept. 20, 1864.

CDV studio portrait of George W. Ford. he stands with one foot forward and his arms crossed with his saber on his hip. Brady: Washington. Imprint on recto. Ink inscription identifying subject on verso. Floyd enlisted at 30 on Aug. 22, 1861, at Elmira, NY, and commissioned as a Captain into Co. A of the NY 50th Engineers on Sept. 18, 1861. He was promoted to Major on April 9, 1864, and Lieut. Colonel by brevet on March 13, 1865. He resigned on March 25, 1865.

CDV vignetted portrait of Charles N. Hewitt. Alexander Gardner: Washington DC. 511 Seventh Street and 332 Pennsylvania Ave. imprints on verso. Ink inscription identifying the subject on recto. Hewitt enlisted at 26 on July 26, 1861, at Geneva, NY, and was commissioned as an Assistant Surgeon into Field & Staff of the 50th NY Engineers. Promoted to Surgeon on June 14, 1862, and mustered out on June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, Virginia.

CDV studio portrait of Arthur M. Jackson. Brady: New York and Washington DC. Imprints on recto and verso. Ink inscription identifying subject on verso. Enlisted at 23 on Aug. 28, 1862, at Rome, NY, and mustered into Co. C of the 50th NY Engineers as a private. He was promoted several times: Sergeant on Oct. 21, 1862; 1st Lieut. on Sept. 22, 1864; and Capt. of Co. H on March 10, 1865. Mustered out on June 13, 1865 aft Fort Barry, Virginia. Image taken while Jackson served as a Sergeant, his chevrons visible on his sleeve.

CDV vignetted portrait of Edmund O. Beers. Brady: New York and Washington DC. Imprints on recto and verso. Presentation inscription by Beers on verso. Beers enlisted at 32 on Aug. 1, 1861, at Elmira, NY, and was commissioned into Co. H of the 50th NY Engineers as a Captain. He was promoted to Major of Field & Staff on Jan. 1, 1864. Mustered out on Oct. 26, 1864, at City Point, VA.

CDV vignetted portrait of Benjamin F. Dexter. Brady: Washington. Inscription identifying the subject on verso. Dexter enlisted at 28 on Jan. 10, 1862 at Albany, NY, and was commissioned into Co. F of the 50th NY Engineers as a 2nd Lieut. He was promoted to 1st Lieut. on Oct. 1, 1862, and to Captain of Co. L on Jan. 28, 1864. He mustered out on June 13, 1865, at Fort Barry, VA.

CDV portrait of an officer identified as F.?E. Heine. Webster: Binghamton. Ink inscription to verso identifies the subject, alongside a 2 cent revenue stamp. Unable to identify the subject further.

Originally organized in Elmira, NY, it was originally known as Stuart's Regiment (after Charles B. Stuart included here) but was converted to a engineers' brigade and ordered to Washington. They worked extensively at Yorktown, Harrison's Landing, around Washington DC, and especially before the Battle of Fredericksburg where they built bridges under the fire of enemy sharpshooters. They would again prove essential during Petersburg, constructing and repairing fortifications, and destroying railroads.
Condition Report: Each subject is listed at highest rank achieved.

Minor toning or light edgewear to mounts.