Rare 1860 Salt Print Image
(1836-1906) Born at Augusta, Ga., he graduated in the West Point class of 1859. He resigned his commission in the U.S. Army on April 22, 1861, and in September was appointed colonel of the 19th Alabama Infantry, with which he fought with at Shiloh. Soon after he was transferred to the cavalry and on July 13, 1862, General Bragg appointed him chief of cavalry of the Army of the Mississippi. From that time until the close of the war he was almost constantly engaged in battle. Three times wounded, 36 staff officers fell by his side, and 16 horses were shot out from under him. His exploits were second only to those of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Promoted to brigadier general on Oct. 30, 1862, and major general to rank from Jan. 20, 1863, he commanded the cavalry during Bragg's invasion of Kentucky, at Murfreesboro, and in the Chattanooga campaign. During the Atlanta campaign he was again active and made several raids on Sherman's communications. He later opposed Sherman's advance to Savannah. He was captured in Georgia in May of 1865 and confined at Fort Delaware until June 8, 1865. In 1881 he was elected to the U.S. Congress serving for 8 terms. He once again donned the old blue uniform when he was appointed major general of U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish American War.
1860 dated, salt print photograph. Seated view wearing a single breasted frock coat with epaulets and holding his gauntlets in one hand while cradling his cavalry saber across his lap, with his sash attached to his belt. His Hardee hat with plume, cloth Jeff Davis hat badge and cloth cavalry insignia with regimental numeral "1," sits on a table at his side. Back mark: Photograph Taken By Anson, 589 Broadway, opposite Metropolitan Hotel, New York. No. 4261, July 1860. It shows Joe Wheeler as a lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Dragoons only 9 months before he resigned his commission in the U.S. Army to join the Confederacy! Rare! |