HALF-PLATE PHOTO OF SOUTH CAROLINA SOLDIER WITH SWORD AND C.S.A. PATRIOTIC CHEST BADGE
Superlative half-plate ambrotype, depicts two men standing side-by side, the one on the right in civilian garb. The man on the left wears an early Confederate frock coat with two-piece officer's belt. Officer's shoulder straps are visible, though his rank cannot be determined. A large patriotic badge in the form of a hanging cloth Confederate national flag is attached to the man's right breast, and he holds a long, sheathed sword in his right hand. The image, a bit dark, was retouched in color by the photographer who color-accented the badge, buttons, shoulder boards and belt buckle. The photograph is set in an early brass mat and fitted into an embossed case with red velvet opposite the glass covering the photo. Two ca. 1920s labels are pasted to the front of the case with ink notations: "Left James Arthur Magill 1/22/1842 - 1/26/1881 Right Richard Magill older brother of above". Records show that a James Magill was enlisted as a sergeant on Feb. 1, 1862 and served with the 19th S.C. Infantry. That regiment fought with the Army of Tennessee from Murfreesboro to Atlanta, with Hood in Tennessee, and was active in the North Carolina operations. A superlative image!