Killed at the Battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi in May 1863

(1816-63) Born in Claiborne, Maryland, he graduated in the West Point class of 1836. He served in the Mexican War on the staff of General David Twiggs, seeing action at the battles of Palo Alto, and Resaca de la Palma. Appointed colonel of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry on July 5, 1861. He was promoted to brigadier general on October 18, 1861. He commanded Fort Henry, Tennessee, and after a gallant defense was forced to surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant. He was held as a prisoner of war, at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, sometimes in solitary confinement, until exchanged in August 1862, for Union General John F. Reynolds, who would later be killed at Gettysburg. Tilghman was appointed commander of the 1st Brigade, in General William W. Loring's division, of General Earl Van Dorn's Army of the West. He fought at Corinth, and during the retreat of the army from Holly Springs, to Grenada, he was in command of the rear guard. On December 5, 1862, he won a victory at Coffeeville when he attacked and drove back the pursuing Yankees. On May 16, 1863, while directing the fire of his artillery in the battle of Champion's Hill, in the Vicksburg campaign, he was struck in the chest by an artillery shell fragment which killed him. After his initial burial at Vicksburg, he was reinterred in Woodlawn Cemetery, in New York City.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Full standing view wearing a double breasted Confederate frock coat with rectangular belt plate, sash, and posing with his sword inside of the scabbard. Faint period ink ID on the front mount, Genl. Tilghman, C.S.A. Back mark: E. & H.T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York. Light age toning and wear. This is Tilghman's best know war pose, and was taken in 1861 when he was colonel of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry.