Beschreibung:

Leather album, 8 x 6 in., with tag mounted inside the front cover, inscribed, Presented to Miss America Williams/ By her friend C.H. McHenry. The album contains 91 CDVs and tintypes, many credited to Illinois photographers, such as Mrs. W.A. Reed, J. Simons and G. Moses (Quincy); J. Carbutt, S. Alschuler, and Shaw (Chicago); Henley & Thomas (Geneseo); and E.S. Cleveland (Monmouth); as well as Morse's Gallery of the Cumberland (Nashville, TN); and Gurney & Son and R. Lord (New York); among others. Images of note include 15 CDVs of Civil War soldiers from Illinois regiments, with several identified or signed by the soldier. Most of the soldiers pictured in the album served with the hard-fighting 51st Illinois Infantry, which was organized at Chicago, IL and mustered into Federal service on December 24, 1861. The 51st saw action at several major battles, including Stones River, Chickamauga, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, the Siege of Atlanta, Franklin, and Nashville. The regiment mustered out at Camp Irwin, TX on September 25, 1865. Identified subjects from the 51st IL include: 2 views of 1st Lieutenant Charles H. McHenry, Co. H, (the presenter of the album), the first a studio view, the second showing McHenry with seven of his fellow soldiers atop what appears to be Lookout Mountain, TN; 1st Sergeant Charles Strickland, Co. G, KIA Kennesaw Mountain (6/27/64); Benjamin F. Goldin (HDS lists as "Golden"), Co. H, promoted to sergeant; signed view of Private Joseph Gerard Co. G, WIA (date and place unknown); Sergeant Newell Kinsman, Co. H, in civilian attire; Lewis F. Genung, Co. H, promoted to sergeant; William F. Nicholson, Co. H, promoted to corporal; and Millard F. Bowker, Co. H. Additional soldiers include Private William G. McHenry of the 71st IL Infantry, Co. G; signed view of Corporal Joseph H. Brown 73rd IL Infantry, Co. G; signed view of Sergeant George Hutchens, USCT 4th Infantry; standing view of first lieutenant partially identified as Doctor Clowg? (difficult to decipher); CDVs of 4 unidentified soldiers, including a sergeant and colonel, and a period copy of a hard image. The album also features a vignetted view of Secretary of State William Henry Seward by Gurney & Son; portraits of unusual personalities such as 513-pound woman Phebe J. Dinn and a female snake charmer; "Old Abe," mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Regiment; and 70 portraits of men, women, and children, many members of the McHenry family, including the album's recipient, America, identified as Grandma William McHenry. Condition: CDVs in very fine condition overall. Many retain nice rich tones. Album interior pages, portion of pages have become detached from spine. Album exterior in very good condition overall.