“Better feeling never existed between officers and enlisted men than in the 28th Iowa Infantry. Many eyes were moistened when separation took place.”

An impressive group of 38 identified carte-de-visite (CDV) photographs of Civil War soldiers, 24 of which depict men of the 28th Iowa Infantry. Other regiments represented include the 24th Iowa Infantry, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and several Indiana units, including the 11th, 47th, and 67th Infantries. All of these regiments had a connection with the 28th Iowa. The lot also includes a group of 12 regimental reunion ribbons, as well as a pair of post-War G.A.R. calling cards for Col. Bartholomew Wilson and Pvt. Martin Koester (both of the 28th Iowa).

The 28th had unique service for an Iowa regiment, as they fought in both the Eastern and Western Theaters of the Civil War. From the Vicksburg and Red River campaigns through Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley campaign, the stalwart men of the 28th crisscrossed the United States in defense of the Union. Excitingly, two of the subjects of these photographs wear the regiment's unique jacket, one of the most recognizable and attractive uniform designs on either side of the conflict. While its origins remain unclear, the 28th Iowa jacket features a continuous strip of lace that extends vertically down the length of the buttons, then curves along the waist before forming a small loop and snaking back across the chest, ending with large patriotic symbols—a shield on the left and star on the right. Whether this design was a deliberate homage to zouave style is unclear, but the visual impact is striking.

Nearly every carte in this group features a period identification; a previous collector also added the name of each man to the verso in neat pencil. Highlights include:

Capt. Orange F. Dorance, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA Sabine Cross Roads)
Capt. Joseph Gardiner Strong, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA 2X; Sabine Cross Roads, Third Winchester)
“Metcalf”, the sutler of the 28th Iowa
Col. Bartholomew Wilson, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA Cedar Creek)
Col. John Connell, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA, arm amputated & POW, Sabine Cross Roads)
Capt. Daniel Dean, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA, Third Winchester)
Lt. Charles E. Haverly, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA, Third Winchester)
Lt. Thomas Hughes, 28th Iowa Infantry (POW, Sabine Cross Roads)
Lt. John C. Summers, 28th Iowa Infantry (WIA, Third Winchester)
Lt. Col. Leander Clark, 24th Iowa Infantry (WIA, Champion Hill)
Sgt. John K. Lux, 10th Iowa Infantry (WIA, Vicksburg)
Pvt. Jacob Lux, 10th Iowa Infantry (Died of disease)
Gen. James B. McPherson (KIA, Atlanta)

Likely, these images were once housed together in an album that belonged to a member of the 28th Iowa - perhaps an officer. Virtually every image relates to the regiment in some way, whether a photo of a member of the unit or a soldier who served in a sister unit. Collectively, they help tell the story of a band of brothers that bonded over thousands of miles of travel and nearly four years of hard fought service.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Historic Photography, Early Photography, Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, Cased Images, Union Cases, Militaria]