Since Memorial Day has just passed
and flags are flying all over town in tribute to our country’s military defenders, it seemed
appropriate to share with you this photograph of a group of Civil War veterans
assembled in Reading, Massachusetts in 1894 on the occasion of the 250th
anniversary of the town.
I love this photo because of the
faces—especially of the older men.
Each one is worth a portrait.
And you can see how proud they are of their uniforms and
accomplishments. Some of the younger men, like the boy who’s second from the left in the back row, clearly are too
young to have fought in the Civil War. Perhaps only the front row are the Civil War vets.
This photograph, which is
a large albumen print mounted on cardboard, is approximately 8 by 10 inches in
size. On the back someone has
written, “Reading 250 Anniversary, Commander Harley Prentiss and staff, 1894.”
(Every time I find an
identification like that on the back of any old photograph, I breathe a little
prayer of thanks and vow that I, like my mother, will always identify photos
before I stash them away. Of course
I don’t, especially because most of my photos exist only in my computer.)
A little Googling got me this
information: “Harley Prentiss
served in the 50th Regiment of infantry of the Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia in the late war of the rebellion.”
And in a listing of soldiers I
found: “Sergt. Clerk Harley Prentiss. Age 18 – Reading. Enl. Aug. 11,
1862. Mustered Sept. 19, 1862.
Mustered out Aug. 24, 1863.
Subsequent service Co. E – lst Battery heavy artillery. Died in Reading MA.”
Now I am not one of those photo
collectors who specialize in the Civil War. I know these collectors (who are mostly men) could tell me everything about these
medals and uniforms and insignia. If someone would like to fill me in by leaving a comment
below, I’d really appreciate it.
I’m guessing that the man seated in the center of the first row is Harley Prentiss, with the feathers
(cockade?) on his hat. If he
enlisted at age 18 in 1862, he would be 50 in this photo in 1894.
But this guy, with his dashing hat
labeled “194, G.A.R.” also looks pretty important. (I do know that G.A.R. stands for Grand Army of the
Republic.)
And this man on the far
right—what’s that stick he’s holding?
I notice that some of the belt buckles have stars on them and others
have eagles but what’s on this buckle, I’m not sure.
I’m hoping some of you Civil War
experts out there will fill me in.
But in the meantime, let’s all raise a glass to honor the men and women
who have been risking their lives in defense of our country since 1776.
