General Lyon's principal aide at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri in 1861

Colonel 3rd Missouri Infantry

Colonel 51st U.S. Colored Infantry

(1816-89) Graduated from Harvard in 1842. He served as a member of the Massachusetts legislature, 1859-60, and was editor of the Boston Daily Bee, 1846-48. In 1861, Shepard went to St. Louis where he expressed his anti-secessionist and abolitionist views, and he soon took a position on the staff of General Nathaniel Lyon. He was Lyon's principal aide at the battle of Wilson's Creek, and after Lyon's death became lieutenant colonel of the 19th Missouri Infantry, and colonel of the 3rd Missouri Infantry when the two regiments consolidated in 1862. He was commended by his superiors during the capture of Arkansas Post. Ever zealous for the cause of the negro, he accepted the colonelcy of the 51st U.S. Colored Infantry which was largely recruited from runaway slaves and contrabands. He was promoted to brigadier general on Nov. 17, 1863, and the following year was stationed at Vicksburg with a brigade of 3 negro regiments. After the war Shepard held various political appointments.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Bust view portrait. Case & Getchell, Boston imprint on the front mount. Backmark: Case & Getchell Photographic Artists, 299 1/2 Washington Street, Boston. Very fine. Scarce.