Leatherette photograph album stamped on front cover in gold gilt "Lizzie." Philip and Solomons' "Metropolitan Bookstore," Washington D.C. seal affixed to inside front cover. Front flyeaf inscribed in ink: "Lizzie Colegate McCawley, Curtis House, Marine Barracks. Washington, March 28th 1863." 84 CDV and tintype photographs.

Historic Civil War photograph album presented to Mary Elizabeth Colegate (1843–1867) by her husband, Major Charles Grymes McCawley (1827-1891), on the day of their marriage, 28 March 1863. Major McCawley was the eighth commandant of the Marine Corps best remembered today for choosing "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful") as the Marine Corps' official motto. The phrase Semper Fidelis holds deep significance within the United States Marine Corps and is commonly associated with its identity and values. The album contains numerous portraits of Marines in uniform and civilian clothing, Army/Navy officers in uniform, and various friends/family of the McCawley's.

Less than 4,000 Marines are enumerated as serving during the Civil War. Consequently, their representation in period photography is scarce. This unpublished album, never before offered, represents a very rare compilation of Marine portraits kept by the McCawley family. Notable views include:

1. Major Charles Grymes McCawley & Family

As he presented this album to his wife "Lizzie" on the day of their marriage in 1863, it is no surprise it contains many portraits of Major McCawley and his family. At least five CDV/tintype views show Major McCawley, the most significant being a bust view of him in uniform as a first lieutenant at the outset of the Civil War (no imprint to verso). A CDV-sized tintype of Major McCawley is the last photograph of the album, showing him as an older man around the time he was serving as the eighth commandant of the Marine Corps.

The recipient of this album, Mary Elizabeth "Lizze" McCawley, is shown several times as well as her young son, Charles L. McCawley (1865-1935). Charles became a prominent Marine officer in his own right and was awarded the Marine Corps Brevet Medal for bravery during the Spanish-American War. Lizze and Major McCawley are shown together in two ninth plate-sized tintypes, one housed in a paper sleeve.

Major Charles Grymes McCawley (1827-1891) was a career Marine officer whose service began in 1847. He took part in the Battle of Chapultepec and the capture of Mexico City during the Mexican–American War (it is this battle which is commemorated in the Marine Hymn's words, "From the Halls of Montezuma ..."). During the Civil War, he aided in the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, November 7, 1861, and led a detachment of 200 marines to reoccupy the Norfolk Navy Yard, May 1862. He subsequently commanded Marine detachments during operations in Charleston Harbor against Forts Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter. For gallant and meritorious conduct during the boat attack on Fort Sumter, September 8, 1863, he was brevetted to the rank of major and received a full promotion to that rank on June 10, 1864. McCawley was eventually appointed the eighth commandant of the Marine Corps in 1876, guiding the Corps through a period of transformation and growth.

2. Seven Marines in Uniform

The views include: Major Lucien LeCompte Dawson (commanded marines at Fort Fisher), Major Philip Richard Fendall III (prominent Marine and cousin of Robert E. Lee), Lieutenant William Wallace (breveted for gallantry at Fort Fisher), Captain John Schermerhorn (noted in one source as capturing Confederate diplomats in Cuba), Major Henry A. Bartlett (command of a detachment of marines that took Jacksonville, Florida in 1864), Lieutenant James Baker, Lieutenant George Croghan Reid (saw action during the Civil War, later was promoted to Brigadier General), and an unidentified subject.

3. Two Marines in Civilian Clothing

The views include: Major John C. Cash (Paymaster) and Lt. Frederick Tomlinson Peet (led marines at Fort Wagner).

4. Twelve Army/Navy Civil War Officers in Uniform

The views include: Admiral Farragut (CDV of an etching), Rear Admiral Silas H. Stringham, Rear Admiral Ralph Chander, Lieutenant Payne (identity unknown), Colonel William Emile Doster (led troops at Gettysburg and defended two Lincoln assasination conspirators during their trial), unidentified army officer, unidentified army officer, unidentified army officer (possibly navy), Rear Admiral John M.B. Clitz (misidentified at "J. Monroe...USN Captain"), unidentified navy officer (perhaps this is "J. Monroe...USN Captain"), Governor William Sprague IV (led a Rhode Island regiment early in the war), Captain Jackson McBlair (identity unknown).

5. Miscelaneous Views

Many of the civilian portraits in this album are identifed, at least partially. A cursory search reveals that, unsurprisngly, many of the subjects were acquainted with or related to McCawley. At least two of the views appear to depict foreign naval officers.




[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Militaria, Marines, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Albumen Photography, CDV, Carte de Visite, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-Visite, Portraits, Ambrotypes, Tintypes]