1/4 Plate Tintype Of Two 8th Massachusetts Sergeants – SOLD

Description

1/4 Plate Tintype Of Two 8th Massachusetts Sergeants.

The tintype is identified on the back in period ink and paper, “Right & Left Guide / of Company A 8th Regt / Roanoke Island April 12  1863 / Robert G. Sargent / S. W. Grant.”

From checking the database for these two sergeants, I found that no Robert G. Sargent existed in the 8th Mass Regt., not even one in the Union army.  Company “A” was raised of Newburyport men, mustered in April of 1862.   This regiment spent most of its service in Foster’s Division in North Carolina, then just before leaving Baltimore for Boston to muster out, they were delayed, and held in reserve at Williamsport during Lee’s campaign into Pennsylvania. It was not until Lee’s army had crossed back over the Potomac River, that the 8th Regiment was released from duty and sent to Boston, mustering out in August, 1863.

Clearly these two sergeants are wearing company letter “A” on the forward part of the crown on the caps,  and this was how men of company “A” 8th Mass. Infantry- 9 months wear them.  So who is the seated sergeant? There are not too many possibilities, those being, Ebenezer Noyes, age 25, Edward J. Sawyer, age 32, and Thomas C. Young, age 28.

An image on the database for Thomas Cheever Young could fit as the other sergeant in this tintype, minus the scruffy beard.

Sanford W. Grant, the young 1st sergeant standing, was a 24 year old jeweller from Newburyport, mustering into Co. A, on Sept. 9, 1862, and mustering out with his company at Boston. in August of 1863.  He had service in Co. H, 60th Mass. Infantry beginning in July of 1864, mustering out at Indianapolis, In. in November of 1864. At Indianapolis, the regiment was used to monitor a disloyal secret organization, and among their other duties were to guard some 5000 Confederate prisoners, near Camp Carrington, later Camp Burnside.

Very good condition, with some light ripples from being out of a case for a spell, and light scratching to surface. Light tinting on cheeks. No case.

This image came from the collection of Gil Barrett.  I photographed the display card as a reference to what was thought to be identification for both of these sergeants.