Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
a fine collection with unknown provenance put into an album comprising 30 uniformed photographs of regimental staff and company grade officers including a significant 13 casualties. Twenty-three officers are identified in mixed pencil and ink having various New York back marks. There are four different CDVs of William B. Coan, the regiment’s last colonel, suggesting that he might have originally compiled this group lacking any civilians.
In order of appearance the cartes are: a rare view of Brigadier General George Crocker Strong, promoted Brigadier General 3/23/63, severely wounded while leading the assault on Ft. Wagner 7/18/63, DOW 7/30/63, posthumously promoted Major General 7/31/63 to date from 7/18/63; Lt. Colonel James M. Green (KIA Ft. Wagner 7/18/63); a Lt. Colonel or Major, possibly Lt. Col. Green or Surgeon Mulford; 1st Lieutenant James A. Barrett, Co. H. (WIA Ft. Wagner 7/18/63, WIA Cold Harbor 6/2/64, m/o as major 9/1/65); Surgeon Joseph L. Mulford (m/o 9/30/64); Major Dudley W. Strickland (discharged 6/13/63); Capt. William L. Lockwood, Co. H., (WIA Ft. Wagner 7/18/63, discharged 5/28/64); Capt. Anthony Elmendorf, Co. G., (discharged 4/19/64); unidentified officer; Capt. William B Coan, Co.E., (WIA Ft. Fisher 1/15/65, major, lt. colonel, brevet colonel 3/13/65 for gallantry at Ft. Fisher); Colonel William B. Barton (WIA Cold Harbor 6/1/64, m/o 12/3/64, brevet Brigadier General 3/1/3/65 for gallantry at Ft. Wagner); 1st Lieutenant John A. Fee, Co. I., Capt 4/6/64, (WIA Petersburg 6/20.64, DOW 7/15/64); unidentified captain; Capt. Joseph Taylor, Co. C., (WIA & POW Ft. Wagner 7/18/63, WIA Cold Harbor 6/2/64, WIA Strawberry Plains 8/16/64, discharged for disability 11/3/64); Capt. Nere A. Elfwing, Co. B., (WIA Ft. Wagner 7/18/63; right leg amputated, promoted lt. colonel 12/3/64, m/o 9/1/65); unidentified 1st lieut./assistant surgeon wearing Medical Staff insignia; Capt. Frederick Hurst, Co. K., (WIA & POW Ft. Wagner, DOW as prisoner Charleston 7/31/63); a second view of William B. Coan wearing overcoat; Capt. William J. Carlton, Co. D., (m/o 11/13/64); 1st Lieut. E.J. Hutchinson, Co. I., (discharged for disability 5/26/65); Capt. James H. Dandy, Co. B., 100th NY, (formerly Co. G., 48th NY, discharged 12/14/62; promoted Capt. & Major 100th NY, KIA Ft. Gregg 4/2/65); unidentified man in civilian dress with cane; unidentified officer; Capt. Adolph Lacoppidean, Co. D., (m/o 9/1/65); 1st Lieut. Robert S. Edwards, Co. C., (KIA Ft. Wagner 7/18/63); Capt. James O. Paxson, Co. D., (WIA Ft. Wagner 7/18/65, DOW 7/31/63); unidentified vignette; a third view of William B. Coan as captain; a fourth view of William B. Coan wearing oak leaves on his collar; and 1st Lieut. Jacob L. Michaels, Co. B., (m/o 9/1/65).
To the 54th Massachusetts goes glory in perpetuity. Yet Strong’s lead brigade that fateful July 18th evening consisted of five more stalwart regiments including the 48th New York, all preparing to assault the same objective. The narrow stretch of beach before Battery Wagner forced Strong to echelon his attacking regiments in column of companies. Shaw’s untried 54th Massachusetts was given the post of honor and the lofty exchange between General Strong and Colonel Shaw exhorting the black soldiers to their baptism of fire—who will lift the flag and carry it on?— is ensconced in the memory of movie-goers. Bayonets fixed, the 54th surged forward into a maelstrom of fire, over the moat and was shot to pieces on the parapet of the fort. The unflappable Shaw was killed along with 280 of his men—black and white—and ignominiously dumped into a sandpit, a soldier’s burial that he would have approved.
The 6th Connecticut, the next regiment in line to attack, sought a breach in a weak point in the Confederate earthworks and was quickly reinforced by the 48th New York. Under a withering oblique fire, the New Yorkers instinctively kept low and succeeded in forcing the slope of the southeast bastion. The enraged defenders wheeled three howitzers into range and poured canister point-blank into the serried blue ranks. The impetus of the attack was now stalled. In fact, Strong’s brigade had dissolved in extricable chaos, some running for the rear, others yelling, fighting and dying in the darkness. Lacking timely reinforcements and hindered by confusion, a third wave aimed at the Federal toe hold on the corpse strewn southeast bastion never materialized. Union survivors became intermingled—48th New York and 54th Massachusetts men with 6th Connecticut, 67th and 62nd Ohio soldiers—clinging to the sandy breastworks while still beating back two determined Confederate attempts to dislodge them. By now the Battery Wagner garrison had been reinforced and a third attack overwhelmed the pockets of Federal resistance making prisoners of those that could not escape in the fire lit summer darkness. Next morning, Confederate William B. Taliaferro, a veteran brigadier commanding Battery Wagner, beheld the carnage and observed grimly, I have never seen so many dead in the same space.
Individual acts of heroism not withstanding, the 48th New York suffered 242 killed and wounded, the second highest number after the 281 casualties of the 54th Mass. All totaled about 1500 Federals fell in the aborted attack chronicled by the popular Harpers Weekly. The idealistic Shaw and his 54th became the cause celebrate’ of Boston’s abolitionist circles while rallying more black recruits—now fighting equals— to United States colors.
The 48th New York remained on duty at Beaufort and Hilton Head before embarking on the expedition to Florida in February 1864 and fighting at Olustee on the 20th. Once more assigned to the 10th Corps, Army of the James, the regiment served under Butler during operations against Petersburg and Richmond, seeing more combat at Cold Harbor, the Mine Explosion, and the heavy attritional fighting that lasted into the fall of 1864, pinning Lee’s army in an ever lengthening line of fixed defenses. Late in the year, the 48th was pulled out of the trenches and joined the unsuccessful attack on Fort Fisher in December and the second assault in January 1865. After spending the winter in the Cape Fear line, the New Yorker’s participated in the march through the Carolinas, the advance on Kinston, Goldsboro, and Raleigh, before witnessing the surrender of Johnston’s army on April 26. The regiment remained on duty in Raleigh until mustering out in August 1865.
Condition: Cartes are uniformly VG. with light foxing and minor edge/corner wear. Leather album VG. with moderate edge wear, complete brasses; pages slightly soiled but undamaged except for back marbled board.
Auction Location:
6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
Previewing Details:
Tuesday, June 23, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| Ohio |
5.5% |
Ohio State Tax |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
17.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
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Cowan's is happy to provide a shipping estimate in advance of the auction. We have partnered with an outside shipper - Wrap-It Postal. Their services to our respected customers are based inside the Cowans facility.Please contact Wrap-It Postal by email at shipping@cowans.com, or call 513.871.1670 (ext.19). You can also submit a request for an online quote . All shipping and packing costs will be charged separately by Wrap-It Postal to your credit card on file.
Cowan's is in no way responsible for the acts or omissions of independent handlers, packers or shippers of purchased items or for any loss, damage or delay from the packing or shipping of any property.
ADVICE TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Cowan's will not ship any package containing a firearm to any location other than within the United States. Buyers outside the United States must make their own shipping arrangements taking full risk for the transportation of any firearm.
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Buyers are required to pay for all packing, shipping and insurance charges. Overseas duty charges are the responsibility of the successful bidder. Be aware that for larger and/or valuable items, shipping charges can be substantial.
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