CDV – Id’d 3rd Battalion Of Rifles Massachusetts Militia Officer -SOLD

Description

CDV – Id’d 3rd Battalion Of Rifles Massachusetts Militia Officer.

Identified as 1st Lieutenant Elijah A. Harkness of Worcester, Mass., who enlisted in the 3rd Bn of Rifles as the 4th Lt. in May of 1861, and mustered out in August that year.  He again was commissioned into the Field & Staff of the 25th Mass Infantry, as 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant in October of 1861, and again discharged for promotion, being commissioned as major in the Field & Staff of the 51st Mass. Inf., in November of 1862, mustering out on July 27, 1863, at Worcester.

The 3rd Bn Rifles spent most of their 3 months service at Fort McHenry, Baltimore.  The note on the back of image states he was taken prisoner at some point.  Harkness most likely saw service with the 25th in North Carolina, at Battles of Roanoke Island, and New Berne.  His last regiment, the 51st Mass. were engaged in a few minor skirmishes, then ordered back to Fortress Monroe, and held over for emergency purposes while the confederate army under Gen. R.E. Lee was in Pennsylvania.  They were sent to Baltimore searching houses for weapons, and guarding prisoners taken at Gettysburg.

The image was taken while Harkness was with the 3rd Bn Rifles. There is no photographer backmark.

Very good condition. Possibly trimmed, but very hard to tell.