CDV, General Samuel R. Curtis

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1805-66) His father was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He graduated in the West Point class of 1831. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War, he was appointed adjutant general of Ohio but soon accepted the colonelcy of the 2nd Ohio Volunteers which he led with distinction in General Zachary Taylor's army. In 1856, he was...  

CDV, General Daniel E. Sickles

Murdered Philip Barton Key II across the street from the White House!

Severely wounded at Gettysburg resulting in the amputation of his leg

Medal of Honor Recipient for heroism at the Battle of Gettysburg

United States Congressman & New York State Senator

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1819-1914) Born in New York City, he was a...  

CDV, General David B. Birney The gallant General Birney died from malaria in 1864

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1825-1864) Son of the antislavery leader James G. Birney, he was born in Huntsville, Alabama. He moved with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Andover, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He then moved to Philadelphia where...  

CDV, General William W. Averell

Colonel of the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1832-1900) Born in Cameron, New York, he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1855. His pre-war army career included garrison duty at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., a tour at the Cavalry School in Carlisle, Pa., and two years of rugged service fighting the western...  

CDV, General George L. Hartsuff

In December 1855, he was severely wounded in a skirmish with Seminole Indians near Fort Drane, Florida, a wound that would eventually cause his death!

Severely wounded at the battle of Antietam, Maryland, in September 1862

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1830-74) Born at Tyre, New York, he graduated in the West Point class of...  

CDV, Lieutenant Colonel, Barton S. Alexander

Chief Engineer of the defenses of Washington, D.C., in 1861

Photograph taken by Alexander Gardner, Washington, D.C.

(1819-78) Born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, he graduated #7 in the West Point class of 1842, and was commissioned into the elite U.S. Engineers Corps. He served in the Mexican War, as an engineer officer building fortifications to protect the supply lines of the U.S. Army during their advance upon Mexico City. After the war, he was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he served as architect for the Scott Building of...  

CDV, General Charles B. Spicer

Served as brigadier general in the New York State Militia in the 1850's and during the Civil War.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 1/4 card. Standing view wearing double breasted frock coat with epaulets and rank of brigadier general. He is also wearing what appears to be a two piece N.Y. belt plate, sash, and is holding his sword. His chapeau with plume sits on top of the studio table at his side. Back mark: J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, N.Y. Very sharp. Excellent image.  

CDV, Lietenant Colonel Calvin N. Otis, 100th New York Infantry

Promoted to Brevet Brigadier General in 1865

(1814-83) Born in Onondaga County, N.Y., he was an architect and builder by trade. Otis designed St. John's Church, in Savannah, Ga., in 1851, the Buffalo Broadway Auditorium, the Buffalo Medical College and Mariners Church of Detroit. During the Civil War he served as lieutenant colonel of the 100th New York Infantry, and led his regiment during the capture of Folly Island, South Carolina. He was promoted to rank of brevet brigadier general, on March 13, 1865, for "faithful and meritorious...  

CDV, General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick

The first Regular U.S. Army officer to be wounded in action during the Civil War, June 1861

Colonel 2nd New York Cavalry

He was wounded again in the 1864 Atlanta, Georgia campaign

United States Minister to Chile

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

(1836-81) Born near Deckertown, New Jersey, he graduated in the West Point class of May...  

CDV, General George G. Meade

Union commander who defeated General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg

(1815-1872) He was born in Cádiz, Spain, to a wealthy merchant and banking family from Philadelphia. He graduated in the West Point class of 1835, and fought with distinction in the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican War where he earned a brevet for gallantry in the battles at Monterey. He served in the United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers, and led construction of lighthouses in Florida and New Jersey from 1851 to 1856, and the United States Lake...  

CDV, Army and Navy U.S.V.

From the personal collection of Surgeon & General Bernard John Dowling Irwin. Irwin has the distinct honor of being the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in U.S. military history by date of action, February 13, 1861

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 3 7/8 card. Features portraits of 100 Union Generals and Naval Officers in a collage format. Each individual person is identified by a number, and the corresponding numbers with their names are printed on the verso. Published by C.D. Fredricks & Co., 587...  

CDV, General Henry W. Halleck

General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army during the Civil War, 1862-64

(1815-1872) Born on a farm in Westernville, Oneida County, New York, his father fought as an officer in the War of 1812. He graduated 3rd in the West Point class of 1839, and became a noted expert in military studies earning the nickname, "Old Brains," which was later turned around to mock him by fellow officers. An assistant professor while still an undergraduate at the United States Military Academy, he first worked upon the fortifications of New York Harbor, and in...