Fed Cav Image

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Fed Cav Image

Blowing it up and manipulating it in Photoshop, the strap that Paddy Mac thinks look s like a "shiny sweat spot" can be seen going all the way to the to the saddle and connecting to the O ring.

[Outrider]

Re: Fed Cav Image

I think I was talking about something else Mike. That or I am just going blind.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Fed Cav Image

Well, I am kinda surprised there are no comments about that coat. A VERY RARE bird indeed it is a stunning example. Anyway, for you Federal guys I hope you like the photograph of Capt Wilson. Your right Tom, he looks every bit the Farb. Can you imagine one of us showing up with his plume and etc.? Regardless, Wilson and his family were quite the soldiers and made the ultimate sacrifice. Here's more information from Cowan's....

Captain Wilson's service and that of his four brothers is exemplary. Wilson was severely wounded by a bullet through the shoulder that lodged in his lungs at Dabney’s Mills (Hatcher’s Run), Virginia on February 6, 1865 and died on Valentine’s Day at home in Baltimore. Tragically, none of Robert’s four brothers survived the war either including younger brother Colonel John Wilson, commanding the 1st Maryland Infantry, killed in action February 6, 1865, also at Dabney’s Mills, and two others, Isaac and Malcolm, killed at Antietam.

In terms of composition and visual clarity this outdoor ambrotype is simply breathtaking - among the finest cavalry subjects ever. The martial-looking Wilson is shown standing next to his warhorse wearing crisp captain’s straps and feathered officer’s Hardee hat with the numeral “1” over crossed sabers. His sash is delicately tinted red and his chestnut horse colored a soft brown. The saddle blanket with two rows of gold trim has been rendered in blue with the numeral “1” highlighted by gilding as with the brass fitting of the horse furniture. The officer’s rolled valise also bears the numeral “1.” Clarity is sharp except where the horse abruptly shook his head at the moment of exposure. About the only negative is a slight loss of the photographer’s applied gilding—appearing as minor abrasions — over the rows of saddle blanket trim. The information written on the back suggests that the unknown artist took the photograph at Mount Clare, later Camp Carroll in Baltimore, used by a succession of regiments as a cavalry training ground.

In September 1861 thirty-six year old Robert Wilson was commissioned captain of Company F, 1st Maryland Cavalry and this early image was probably taken shortly afterwards. Wilson abruptly resigned in May 1862 citing poor health. He rejoined the regiment in August 1862 as a private in Company G and was promoted corporal in November 1862 and advanced to sergeant in April 1863. Wilson was re-commissioned 2nd lieutenant in December 1864 after detached service with the ambulance corps. Wilson’s military records from the National Archives accompany the ambrotype with an interesting bit of minutia from the January-February 1865 company roll showing that the newly re-commissioned Lieutenant Wilson was dunned $17.33 by the government for his “Colt Army Revolver” issued when he was when he was a sergeant.

The 1st Maryland Cavalry served in several departmental cavalry and attached corps commands before being assigned to the Army of the Potomac Cavalry Corps in March 1863 and participating in Stoneman’s Raid. The regiment rode with the cavalry corps to Chancellorsville and Gettysburg taking part in the non-stop fighting that characterized the summer of 1864 attached to the 10th Corps, Army of the James along the Bermuda Hundred front.

The Appomattox campaign ended the war and the veteran regiment mustered out in August 1865 having lost 68 officers and men in battle including Captain Wilson. Robert Wilson is buried in the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Chestnut Grove, Maryland. From its first charter in 1868 well into the 20th century the collective sacrifice of Wilson brothers was commemorated by the namesake Wilson Post Number 1, Grand Army of the Republic, Baltimore, Maryland.

Ken R Knopp