Carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph of Thomas Plunkett, who carried the flag of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where he had both his arms blown off by the explosion of a Confederate artillery shell. Plunkett's life was saved by surgery and the attentive care of nurse Clara Barton. For his heroism during the battle, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1866. The flag of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry, shown here with Plunckett, survives to this day and is preserved in a state museum, still visibly stained by Plunckett's blood. 
 
 An Irish immigrant, Plunckett enlisted in the 21st MA in 1861 as a Private, but was quickly promoted to Sergeant for gallantry in action. During the Battle of Fredericksburg,
 Plunckett noticed that the Sergeant tasked with carrying the US flag had been shot and killed.  Not wanting the flag of his adopted country to lie on the ground, Plunkett ran over and raised it. Carrying the flag forward, Plunkett received special attention from the Confederates.  Rifle rounds went through the forage cap on his head, the flag itself, as well as the staff he was holding in his hands.  Soon, an artillery round exploded only feet away from him, immediately killing three soldiers nearby. Two men, Private Bradley Olney and Colonel William Clark, reportedly saw the explosion and didn't expect to see anything left of Plunkett.  When the smoke cleared, they beheld Sgt Plunkett still standing.  His right arm had been ripped off at the shoulder and his left arm was dangling by a piece of skin below his elbow. Using one foot as a plant for the flag staff and cradling the flag with what remained of his left arm, Olney and Clark heard Plunkett screaming over and over "Don't let it fall boys!"
 
 Reverse of the carte bears the photographer's imprint of JW Black of Boston, MA.     
 
 [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Antique Photography, Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, Carte-de-visite, CDV, Albumen]