Welcome to our summer issue!
Military Images Senior Editor and curator extraordinaire Chuck Joyce worked closely with a wonderful group of collectors, including first-time and veteran contributors, to tell the stories of about 25 participants in Gettysburg in “Echoes of Three Days in July 1863.” It is fitting that one of Chuck’s portraits—a tintype of Lt. Col. William A. Throop of the 1st Michigan Infantry on horseback beneath the shade of trees—graces our cover. For regular subscribers, highlighting Gettysburg in our summer issue comes as no surprise. Thanks to Chuck’s enduring interest, it is a tradition.
Another tradition, dating to the publication’s origins in 1979, is showcasing new discoveries in the collecting world. This issue is no exception. In our Photo Sleuth column, “A Trio of USCT Group Portraits Identified,” co-authors Kurt Luther and Bryan Cheeseboro explore three rare U.S. Colored Troops group portraits, revealing their regiments, forts, photographer, and early postwar service in Washington, D.C.
In addition to showcasing historic portrait images, we focus on telling the stories behind them and connecting them to the larger themes of the Civil War. You’ll find numerous examples in this issue. Kyle A. Williams and Paul D. Thompson profile about 20 soldiers of an Empire State regiment in “Mountain Legion: The Hard-Fighting 156th New York Infantry in the Eastern and Western Theaters.” M. Jane Johansson documents how Missouri cavalryman Enos F. Hilton, suffering from poor health as a result of his military service, reinvented himself as a photographer. Dale R. Niesen and I examine the life and times of Acting Signal Officer George H. Felt, who developed innovative signal rockets and coded pyrotechnics that sought to transform Civil War communications.
Our regular columns are packed with storytelling. In Vignette, Scott Valentine tells the sad tale of Col. John A. Koltes, a German immigrant who rose to prominence in Philadelphia only to die leading a charge at Second Bull Run. In The Last Shot, Robert May shares the story of Color Sgt. John A. Kiggins, who repaired his regiment’s flagstaff at Gettysburg and later earned the Medal of Honor for heroism at Lookout Mountain. The Honored Few by Evan Phifer profiles artilleryman Frederick W. Fout, who received the Medal of Honor for rallying abandoned guns during the 1862 siege and surrender of Harpers Ferry. Most Hallowed Ground details Capt. George “Van” Vanderbilt’s daring cavalry action at Bristoe Station, delaying Confederates and helping secure a Union victory. Women of War by Melissa A. Wynn explores the life of educator Emma Brown Montgomery, who devoted her energies to teaching Black children during and after the Civil War. In The Citizenry, Elizabeth A. Topping examines the life of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan’s wife, Nelly, who embraced society life, drew criticism for limited wartime charity work, and remained devoted to her husband until his death. You’ll find more soldier stories in Stragglers, including Confederates William Pratt Parks of The Arkansas Battery and Sgt. John W. Taylor of the 2nd Virginia Infantry.
This issue also explores other aspects of the Civil War era. Our Antebellum Warriors column features a daguerreotype by Henry Earle Insley depicting a U.S. Army captain of the Mexican War era. Phil Spaugy’s Of Arms and Men investigates three Ohio soldiers, Austrian Lorenz muskets, and conflicting evidence that challenges a long-accepted identification. Material Culture notes that Maynard carbines also armed select Union cavalry regiments, including the 1st Wisconsin and 9th Pennsylvania. Behind the Backdrop by Buck Zaidel presents cartes de visite that reveal how photographer J.P. Ball used painted backdrops to distinguish civilian life from military service in wartime Cincinnati. Data in Military Anthropologist shows how emergency militia call-ups from New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Indiana reinforced Union defenses during key Civil War crises.
Part of our mission is to keep subscribers informed. Passing in Review considers two new books: Scott Hippensteel’s Civil War Photo Forensics and the first volume of James McLean’s regimental history of the 14th New York State Militia. My Editor’s Desk installment encourages thoughtful planning to help collectors find future caretakers for their Civil War images and artifacts while easing the burden on loved ones.
Enjoy!
Ronald S. Coddington
Editor & Publisher
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