Robert Henry Hendershot was raised by his widowed mother in Michigan and proved to be a rebellious and misbehaved youth.  Some have likened him to Huckleberry Finn.  Others have described him as a sly juvenile delinquent .  He was 11 years old when the war broke out and he tagged along with a company recruited from his hometown.  At Fredericksburg he was nicknamed the "Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock" and cited for bravery.  The handsome youth became famous and milked the celebrity status for the rest of his life.  Horace Greeley presented him with a fancy drum and lauded his praises in print.  P.T. Barnum hired him to perform at his museum.  Songs were written about him and a play was penned portraying his deeds of valor.  Years later he was accused of ffraud by some Michigan veterans of the battle.  Accusations, defenses, and controversy raged until Hendershot's death. The truth most likely lies somewhere in between his claims and those of his accusers.  Here is a seldom seen war-time CDV of Hendershot .  It was mounted by the photographer on a leather sheet designed with a folding easel.  It is stamped and dated "Patented June 22, 1864."  The book is an original edition of "Campfire Entertainment and the True History of R.H. Hendershot."  A really nice duo.  Drum not included, but is available.

This is a great-looking 1/6th tintype of an unidentified trooper of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry that came out of an estate sale in Lake County, Ohio, near Cleveland 30 years ago. It was accompanied by a ribbon of the Reunion of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1907. The image is very crisp and undamaged with crossed sabres, letter, and number on the wonderful forage cap. Corporal's chevrons, rouged cheeks, and tinting add a nice touch to the image. The cavalry tunic is outfitted with attachment device for shoulder scales indicating that this is likely an early war photo. The 2nd had one of the most amazing combat records of the Federal cavalry in the war. This soldier saw it all.

Pvt. William Lafayette League was 22 years old when he enlisted in Co. B, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. This unit saw extensive action in the west against Stand Watie, William Quantrill, John Hunt Morgan, and Longstreet at Knoxville. In the east they fought under Sheridan at Cedar Creek, Winchester, and other actions in the Shenandoah Valley. The unit had one of the most dramatic records in the cavalry service during the Civil War. This CDV, though stained around the edges, is clear and crisp--sharper than the image shown here. You can see the reenforcement seam in his cavalry trousers, rolled cuffs, and his non-regulation headgear is a nice touch.

John B. Dutton enlisted in 1861 and rose through the ranks to captain in the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry by the time he was discharged at the close of the war. His glorious unit fought from the Indian Territory to Virginia and became one of the Federal cavalry's legends. There are a number of images taken of 2nd OVC recruits in civilian attire. It is possible that photographer J. F. Ryder was near at hand when the enlistment was taking place. (He is holding a forage cap--possibly a prop.) Dutton was the subject of an article in Military Images magazine in 2002 and a copy is included with the photo. The bottom of the image is cut but you can read "2nd Ohio Cavalry" and the photo appears to be that of Dutton four years younger than the image shown of him in uniform in the magazine article. CDV of a real hero of a fantastic unit!

1/6th plate tintype of trooper John Smith, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, probably taken at Camp Dennison. Smith was a 29-year-old English immigrant when he enlisted in 1861. The 2nd saw action in the Western Theatre against Quantrill at Independence, Stand Watie, Morgan, and Longstreet at Knoxville before being sent east to join the Army of the Potomac. They fought at Cedar Creek, Winchester, etc. Smith was discharged in 1863 due to disabilities--index finger shot off, big toe cut off due to frostbite, upper teeth lost. Smith's discharge was folded and pressed bewteen the reverse of the image and its patriotic motif gutta percha case. Image and case in good condition. Comes with original discharge document, and pages of archives' records. Nice identified mounted trooper with a truly incredible cavalry regiment and good records!

Here is one of those Civil War soldier images that is haunting--a boy in uniform. At first, I assumed he was a drummer boy or even an officer's son and regimental mascot. Other images I've seen of drummers and mascots usually have other military items in the photos--cap, belt and buckle, drum, flag, etc. This image eschews all other accoutrements but his jacket and trousers. When I examined the boy's face with a loupe I was surprised at the expression on his face. It recalled the demeanor I'd seen on the faces of combat veterans of Vietnam. His eyes seem that of an old man. I think this boy had seen the elephant before this tintype was taken. Case is pressed paper. Image is good but exhibits some crazing.

This is a nice hand-tinted 1/6th plate tintype of a Federal officer wearing an 1851 sword belt plate, with red piping on his tunic, and an insignia of three small script letters on the front of his forage cap. (The image was encased at some point in an oval frame but now rests in a rectangular composition case.) The soldier's visage is arresting--he is young and handsome and wears his uniform with a certain panache. Nice piece.

Nicely appointed 1/6th plate ambrotype of a Federal junior officer with muttonchop sideburns. His uniform looks brand new--kepi has an infantry horn insignia and I think his buttons are Connecticut. Gutta percha case is excellent. Image is in superlative condition. Exceptional image!

This is a nice 19th plate tintype of a handsome Yankee soldier wearing a great forage cap. It is the only piece of uniform he is wearing--the rest of his dress is civilian. I expect he is a new recruit. The paper case is in good condition and the brass frame proclaims "The Union Now and Forever" beneath the image. The photo is very sharp and crisp, unlike my photo of the image.

This is a nice 1/4 plate tintype of a handsome Federal cavalryman with an interesting shell jacket bearing eight coat size buttons unlike the more commonly encountered shell jacket of a dozen cuff size buttons. The coat bears corporal's chevrons. The case is a good condition push button case of pressed paper. Great image of a cool Yankee cavalryman.

This is a nice 1/6th plate tintype of a really cool-looking Federal officer with a rather outstanding head of hair. His straps are just too blurred for me to say absolutely, but I believe this officer is wearing colonel's eagles. His button configuration would support that or a major's rank. Decent pressed paper case. Behind the image is a period pencil bust drawing of a man in mid-19th century dress and a brief note and signature. I don't know if this case originally accompanied the tintype or not, but it is pretty neat anyway. (I expect the case would be quite desirable to folk art collectors by itself.)

Here is a great 1/6th plate tintype of a stern-looking soldier in a dark uniform. His collar is turned under for reasons we can't guess. His tunic appears to be a frock bunched around the waist. Trousers are dark. Five buttons are visible with gilt paint and it appears that the thread from several others is visible above them going up toward the collar. There are cuff buttons on the coat also. His waist is gridled y a narrow belt with military style holster. The belt is fastened by a small roller buckle common to Confederates and Southern militia. The image is tinted--cheeks and buttons and is in excellent condition. I refer to this image as "quasi-Rebel" because he is clearly not in Federal uniform but his uniform is not identifiable to Confederate service either. He is either western militia or Johnny. Priced accordingly.

Cool 1/9th plate ambrotype of a handsome Confederate youth with an expensive silver-handled dagger and sheath stuck in his sash. He is wearing a fancy battle shirt with decorative collar and cuffs and gilded buttons. Case is good and has been reenforced at seam.

This is an outstanding photograph of a US cavalryman. Image is quarterplate ambrotype of a handsome young trooper with shell jacket, M-1851 sword belt rig with shoulder strap, two Colt pistols and sabre. Soldier is clear-eyed and has the visage of an experienced soldier rather than a recruit. Photographer was J. H. Whitehurst Galleries of New York, DC, Baltimore, Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg, and Lynchburg. Case is split but easily repaired. Image is very crisp and clear--semi circle at upper left is the reflection of my camera lens.

This young soldier is trying hard to look stalwart in his full uniform and gear. Despite being armed with both a rifle with bayonet and a sword and wearing his cap at a jaunty angle the unmistakable look of innocence and lack of guile is revealed in his expression. The image is tintype, 4 1/4 x 3 1/8" and is sharper than my photographic efforts portray. The glare is also mine, not the image's. US plate and eagle buttons were gilded by the photographer. Case is good with reenforced seam. Nice image.