Company K, 1st South Carolina Infantry

30/12/2024

Cornelius Irvine Walker was born on February 14, 1842, in Charleston, South Carolina. Walker was an 1861 graduate of South Carolina Military Academy, later called the Citadel. He served in the 10th South Carolina Infantry as a brigade staff officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel and regimental command by 1864. Walker's Regiment was part of Gen. Arthur M. Manigault’s Brigade at Franklin and attacked with Gen. Ed Johnson’s Division at 7 p.m. that night. Manigault’s Brigade was in Johnson’s second line but was ordered to move left (west) to extend the division’s front line. However, moving on a very dark night during a battle, the maneuver quickly fell apart. Brigade commander Manigault fell wounded as did his two successors along with the only staff officer who knew about the movement, creating a leadership void. Walker later wrote, “We found ourselves under a terrific fire from front and flank, and no orders—lost on the battle-field at night.” Unsure of what to do, Walker consulted with the other regimental leaders and pulled back to safety. He survived two wounds in the last year of the war and returned home to South Carolina. He worked in business and served in roles at the Citadel and with Confederate veteran groups. He wrote several books, including a regimental history of the 10th South Carolina. Walker died in 1927 and is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston.

21/08/2024

My new colorized image of the Officers and men of the Charleston Zouave Cadets! The Zouave Cadets were a militia Infantry company recruited in the summer of 1860 from some of the most prominent families of Charleston, SC.

15/08/2024

My new colorized image of a group of young ladies visiting the graves of CSA soldiers at Magnolia Cemetary in Charleston, SC circa 1890.

01/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/rVsboXS6n8wkZ2LS/

30/01/2024

My new colorized image of Southern Lieutenant General Stephen Dill Lee of the Hampton Legion, South Carolina Infantry Battalion, 1st South Carolina Light Artillery Regiment; Co. A Hampton Legion South Carolina Light Artillery Battery. He was wounded in May 1863 at Champion Hill, Mississippi and in November 1864 at Spring Hill, Tennessee. He was taken prisoner of war on July 3, 1863, at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

19/01/2024

18/01/2024

A German Volunteer

The German Rifles of Charleston included among its number Pvt. Henry Schmidt, the soldier tentatively identified in this portrait. Formed in 1837, the company became part of the 1st Regiment of Rifles, South Carolina Militia, when it was organized in 1859. Schmidt’s uniform, with green tinted cuffs and collar, and what appear to be Mexican War era regiment of Voltigeurs and foot riflemen V buttons suggest he was photographed before August 1861. At this time, the company was converted to infantry and attached to Hampton’s Legion.

The company was converted to artillery, and experienced a further reorganization along with the entire Legion in July 1862. As a result, it became an independent battery known as the German Light Artillery. Schmidt’s military record ends here.

Schmidt may have been in a hurry to fasten his coat for the photographer as the buttons and holes are not aligned!

This image appeared in Domenick A. Serrano’s Still More Confederate Faces (1992).

Quarter-plate ruby ambrotype by an anonymous photographer. Ron Field collection.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

15/01/2024

Portrait by a Photographer of Post-Destruction Columbia

Affixed to the mat of this image of an unidentified Confederate second lieutenant is a label crediting photographer Richard Wearn. Born in the Isle of Wight, Wearn immigrated to South Carolina in 1850. Nine years later he opened his “Premium Photograph and Ambrotype Gallery” in Columbia. By 1860, Wearn had established a partnership with portrait painter and colorist William Preston Hix. The pair worked together for the next 15 years, with the exception of a few years during the war, when Hix was absent, possibly serving in the Confederate army. The partnership dissolved in 1874 after Wearn committed su***de. Wearn is perhaps best known for a series of 19 cartes de visite of downtown Columbia after its destruction by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s army in February 1865.

Sixth-plate ambrotype by Richard Wearn of Columbia, S.C. Matthew L. Oswalt M.D. collection.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

15/01/2024

The Ferguson Boys Go to War

Identified only by the surname Ferguson, these two privates were probably John W. Ferguson, 19, and Henry J. Ferguson, 17, of Cross Anchor, a community south of Spartanburg, S.C. On April 14, 1861, the boys enlisted in the Cross Anchor Volunteers. The matching uniforms and headgear suggest that this image was taken shortly after their enrollment. They both proudly pose holding Model 1849 Pocket C**t revolvers.

The Cross Anchor Volunteers mustered for Confederate service as Company F of the 3rd South Carolina Infantry. The Ferguson boys did not remain with the company for long. James transferred to Company D. Henry was declared underage and discharged in February 1862.

Sixth-plate ambrotype by an anonymous photographer. David W. Vaughan collection.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

12/01/2024

Casualty at Second Manassas

Thomas G. Sheppard, an 18-year-old clerk in Charleston, enlisted as a private in the Carolina Light Infantry Volunteers in the summer of 1861. He and his comrades mustered into Confederate service as Company L of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers (Gregg’s). Sheppard went on to Virginia and survived disease-ridden encampments and fighting through the engagements of the Seven Days,’ only to be mortally wounded at the Battle of Second Manassas on Aug. 29, 1862. He lingered for 19 days before he succumbed to his wounds at a hospital in Warrenton, Va. He was unmarried.

Sheppard likely posed for this portrait shortly after enlistment. The Model 1842 musket he holds was standard issue and his waist belt plate was intentionally worn upside down to compensate for the reversed effect of the ambrotype process.

Sixth-plate ambrotype by an anonymous photographer. Paul Reeder collection.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

12/01/2024

“Order—ARMS”

Discovered in Greenville, S.C., these early war portraits of two volunteers may show brothers. Each poses with the same combination of musket, spear-pointed knife, and tin drum canteen—possibly photographer’s props. Following Hardee’s Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics manual, the soldiers hold their musket at “Order—ARMS.” Both wear six-button jackets of coarsely woven cloth with matching pants. The man at left has a militia-style waist belt with two roller buckles to which is attached his bayonet scabbard. The man at right appears to have the brim of his hat looped up on both sides and attached to the crown by small buttons. Companies recruited in Greenville District in 1861 included the Tyger Volunteers and Saluda Volunteers. They became Companies F and G of the 4th South Carolina Volunteers.

Sixth-plate melainotypes by an anonymous photographer. Courtesy of Sean Seifer.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

11/01/2024

Boy Militia Soldier Turned Citadel Cadet

In 1861, Moses Sanders Haynesworth, 16, posed for this photograph, attired in the enlisted men’s uniform of the Darlington Guards. He and his fellow militiamen became Company B of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, also known as Gregg’s Regiment for its commander, Col. Maxcy Gregg, for six months in 1861.

After their stint expired, most of Haynesworth’s comrades reenlisted in Company A of the 8th South Carolina Volunteers, also known as Cash’s Regiment for Col. Ellerbe B.C. Cash. The under-aged Haynesworth remained behind in Charleston and was admitted to the Citadel. He went on to serve in the Charleston defenses during the summer of 1863 as a private in Company A of the Battalion of State Cadets.

Haynesworth survived the war and lived until 1928.

Quarter-plate ambrotype by an anonymous photographer. Courtesy of Citadel Archives, Charleston, S.C.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

08/01/2024

Captured Near Drewry’s Bluff, Died at Elmira

Philip Evan Thomas enlisted as a private in the St. James Mounted Riflemen at Santee, S.C., in March 1862. He and his company spent the first two years of their enlistment in coastal South Carolina. By March 1864, the Riflemen, now Company E of the 5th South Carolina Cavalry, were ordered to Virginia with the rest of its regiment. Actively engaged in fighting during The Wilderness, Cold Harbor and south of the James River, Thomas was captured near Drewry’s Bluff on May 16, 1864. His odyssey as a prisoner of war took him from Fortress Monroe to Point Lookout, Md., and finally to the prison camp at Elmira, N.Y., where he died of typhoid fever on Oct. 1, 1864.

Carte de visite by an anonymous photographer. The Late John Sickles collection.

This image appeared in the Autumn 2015 issue of Military Images. For more, see Ron Field's "Palmetto Faces": https://www.militaryimagesmagazine-digital.com/2015/09/05/palmetto-faces-autumn-2015/

26/12/2023

Have you ever had to adjust your Christmas plans?

December 25, 1864, was the fourth Christmas of the Civil War. Soldiers and civilians at Petersburg tried to make the day festive, but the realities of war made things less merry.

Some soldiers engaged in athletic contests and games. Others took in concerts from bands and or held parades. Others set off to spend time with friends and relations in nearby units.

Nearly all tried to mark the holiday with special meals. Many U.S. soldiers welcomed the arrival of rare treats from home. Popular menu items included turkey, fresh fruit, mince pies, eggnog, and punch. Some units, like the 21st Connecticut, awaited deliveries that never came and celebrated the day with standard rations.

Christmas delicacies were harder to come by in Confederate camps. Growing logistic troubles limited the arrival of goods from home. The news of the meager Christmas quickly spread, and locals began raising funds and donations for New Year's treats for the men. The people of Petersburg alone raised $35,000. A week later, holiday spreads were delivered for Lee's regiments, though the efforts proved insufficient. In the 17th Virginia, only enough food arrived to feed one of the ten companies.

In Petersburg city, civilians tried to make the best of the difficult season. A dance was held on December 22 and the churches in town held their usual services. Sara Pryor, whose husband was in a prisoner of war camp, boiled corned beef with peas and offered it to soldiers in town, along with walnut pie.

For some soldiers on both sides, Christmas meant a day in the trenches and rifle pits far from the comforts of winter quarters. While the lack of fighting made for a peaceful day, the cheerless holiday surely made them dream of the war's end and their next Christmas at home.

Drawing of Santa Clause by Thomas Nast in January 1863, for Harper's Weekly. Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1929, via Metropolitan Museum of Art under CC 1.0