Large Civil War Collection of New Bern, NC Images, Incl. Captain Edward D. Messinger, 35th New York Infantry, and his Headquarters

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American History: Premier Auction

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 22, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-06-22 10:00:00 2018-06-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History: Premier Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-premier-auction-3268
Cowan’s American History: Premier Auction, scheduled for June 22, 2018 is comprised of early photographs, documents, manuscripts, broadsides, flags, and more dating from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Late Indian Wars, World War I and II and beyond. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description

  Lot of 29 photographs related to New Bern, NC, including:

  Albumen photograph, 10.5 x 8.5 in., showing a rear view of Company A's headquarters in New Bern, with several soldiers positioned along the dirt road, against fences and wood debris, and on the roof and porch of a building to the left. Many of the men are wearing military jackets and kepis, including a couple of officers with shoulder straps visible.

  Albumen photograph, 8 x 6.25 in., featuring a Union regimental band gathered on and around the front porch of a house, with a large bass drum visible in the front. To the right side, there also appears to be an African American woman standing in front of a fence. Pencil inscription on verso reads, "This is Harry Halls Picture / His Fathers on the Picture."

  CDV of Captain Edward D. Messinger (also referred to as Edwin D. Messinger in some records) of the 35th New York Volunteer Infantry, full standing with officers uniform and sword. His kepi rests on the table beside him. Ink inscription on verso reads, "Your Friend / E.D. Messinger."

  2 CDVs showing Captain Messinger's headquarters, one being a side view and the other being a frontal view, both with men gathered on and around the staircases leading into the building, and one (frontal view) also featuring a horse to one side. Both credited to G.P. Critcherson, Worcester, MA.

  7 CDVs of carpenters and other workers who helped construct some of the buildings in the featured photographs, each identified by a pencil inscription on verso. Five credited on verso to Stayner & Smith, "Newbern [sic], N.C."

  17 CDVs showing outdoor views around New Bern, many with inscriptions identifying subjects on mount, image, and/or verso, including views featuring men and horses, a large ship, the post office, the bank, "Craven St. Jail," "the office of A. L. M.," and one fascinating view of four men standing in a garden with "Moses the Darkey." 2 CDVs credited on verso to O.J. Smith, "New Berne [sic],...N.C.," and one credited on verso to F. Wheeler, "Newbern [sic], N.C."

  New Bern was the site of the Battle of New Bern and federal troop occupation throughout the Civil War. It also became a popular site for escaped and freed slaves, as the Union Army set up camps including the Trent River contraband camp to house and protect them. Including important contributions from the offshore Roanoke Island Freedmen's Colony, nearly 4,000 freedmen in North Carolina joined the US Colored Troops to fight for the Union. 

  Edward D. Messinger enlisted near the beginning of the war, in May of 1861, as a first sergeant, and was mustered into Company H of the 35th New York Volunteer Infantry the following month. He received two promotions, first to second lieutenant in November of 1861, and first lieutenant in September of 1862. He was a member of the GAR Post 425 in Chicago, IL, and died in 1908.

  The 35th NY Regiment passed the winter of 1861-1862 at Falls Church, VA, after helping with construction work at Fort Tillinghast and Fort Craig. The summer of 1862 saw the regiment engaged at Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. The regiment also suffered losses at South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Beginning in January of 1863, the 35th performed guard duty in Falmouth and along the Aquia Creek railroad before leaving for Elmira, NY, in May of that year.

  Condition

  First albumen photograph in decent condition, with a few small holes near the bottom (not affecting image subjects), wear including light paper loss to edges, wear to edges of mount and heavy wear (with adhesive residue) to verso. Second albumen photograph with heavy soiling to lower quarter of picture, a couple of spots of discoloration, and at least one minor abrasion near the top. Heavy wear, including paper loss, to mount.  CDVs generally in good condition, with some CDVs toned, and some with soiling (to image and mount) and edge wear to mounts. 
  
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