CDV – Captain August Heiss 31st New York Infantry – SOLD

Description

CDV – Signed By Captain August Heiss 31st New York Infantry.  August Heiss enlisted at New York City as a captain on May 4, 1861 into Co. E, of the 31st New York Infantry. The regiment was organized as a two year regiment. Heiss was killed fairly early in the war, at the Battle at West Point, Va. on May 7. 1862.  The casualties for the regiment that day was significant for their first major engagement of the war, with 16 killed, 25 wounded, and 39 taken prisoner.

On the reverse of the image is written in period ink, “A. Heiss / Capt 31st N.Y.V. / Killed at West Point / May 7th 1862 / “I die mit te bullets.”  The notation was most likely written by a brother officer, and the quote in mixed English and German, which may have been something uttered by Heiss perhaps just before the battle.  An interesting quote that may have bordered on the clairvoyant.

Photographed by F.M. Douglas, Brooklyn, New York. The image was photographed from an original hard image, as this CDV is being viewed in reverse.  Not the sword hangers and the frock buttoning are reversed. A nice pose taken while Heiss was working on a cigar in the right hand.