Fine Albumen Image of Captain Abraham Kerns Arnold, 5th U.S. Cavalry

Fine Albumen Image of Captain Abraham Kerns Arnold, 5th U.S. Cavalry.

Abraham Kerns Arnold, (1837 – 1901),  Graduate, USMA, Class of 1859.  He began his service career as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, and campaigned against the Comanche on the frontier prior to the Civil War. At the beginning of the Civil War, Kerns was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, and adjutant in the 5th U.S. Cavalry, and for a time was aide de camp to General McClellan.  He received brevet promotions of captain and major for gallant and meritorious service at Gaines Mills, and Todd’s Tavern, Va respectively. On May 18, 1864, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for, “a gallant charge against a superior force of the enemy, extricated his command from a perilous position in which it had been ordered” against Confederate forces at Davenport Bridge, Virginia.

At the close of the war, Arnold remained with the 5th Cavalry on frontier duty, serving on the Northern Plains, the Southwest, and back again to the Plains. He was promoted to major in 1869, now with the 6th U.S. Cavalry with their engagements with the Apache, including an expedition into Mexico in pursuit of the Apache, and later was in the Battle at Cibecue Creek on August 30, 1881.  Arnold would hold ranks of ltcol. and colonel in the 1st then the 8th cavalry respectively.  During the Spanish American War he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in the 7th Corps.  He retired in 1901, in May of that year and died in November at the age of 64 that same year.

The image is mounted on period mount approximately 9 x 11 inches, the image being 5 1/4 x 6 3/4 inches. Light soiling on mount, image is fine.

A super image for an exceptional cavalry officer.