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23.10.2008.

Miscellaneous items.
Reality- the war over what next?. If one looks at the history of mankind and his wars the "positive" aspect is nearly always looked at, brave warriors,victory parades in local towns etc. But when peace eventually arrives and the guns have silenced then what? Are the returning warriors accepted with open arms back to the societies where they were recruited from. Just maybe but harsh reality soon kicks in after the cheering crowds have faded away. Thousands of ex Civil War soldiers returned to look for as good employment as they could aquire. Many were poorly educated and many carried wounds and sicknesses that would last their lifespan. They had to exist as well as they could. Many would do quite well but many many did not and died lonely deaths in poverty or worse still perhaps they came back shell shocked or with various mental problems and had to exist on on handouts from benevolent organisations or ever worse be held in the almshouses in the various cities. The list below is of soldiers from various regiments noted as being in the Philadelphia almshouse in the June 1890 census. If one looks down the list it is noted that Neal Brown a soldier of Co. B. of the 69th Pa is one of the unfortunates. He had been discharged by surgeons certificate Feb. 11th 1863. In the list (No 6) is is listed as suffering from senility. One wonders what kind of existence he lived through after his discharge from the army in 1863.

No swear boxes in the 69th. No need for!!.

William Sexton Co F and his trivet

The above image is of a cast brass trivet which has the following information. Wm Sexton Co. F 69 Reg Penn volunteers Post 63.The reverse side has on it D Hain 2541 9th 7th. I assume that William was either presented with this trivet or had it made. The usual GAR emblems also stamped on the trivet surfaces. The trivet in shape of a horse shore. A Co.Cork Ireland man by birth though wounded at Glendale and Fredericksburg he appears to have survived the war.

Private William Sexton Co. F 69th Pa.Vols.

Various items of interest

From time to time I receive images of old photos of men places and general odds and ends from the Civil War era. In many cases they belong to descendants. I will put these on this page on the hope that just maybe someone somewhere can identify either a name, a regiment or a State that they may have come from or served from.The men could be either Union or Confederate veterans. Any information or clues greatly appreciated. Feel free to email the website or leave a message on the Guestbook. Many thanks.

Rubin J Walker or Walter.

Rear of photo.
It is difficult to read clearly the surname but the best that can be read is Reubin J Walker or Walter. Circumstantial information from the lady who supplied the photo and further research tends to suggest that Reubin may well have been an artilleryman in Prices Co. Virginia Light Artillery Danville Virginia circa 1861 later to become Danville W.Virginia in 1863. The soldier is wearing a so called shell jacket and vest used by artillerymen. As regards the significance of the stamps on the back of the photo. The photo was probably used by the soldier as a visiting card similar to the modern business card. It was referred to as a Carte de Visite ie a visiting card or CDV. Among some other aspects of a CDV, the stamps on the back date it to a specific time period from 1864-1866. During the Civil War, Congress passed a stamp tax to raise money for the war effort. From Aug. 1, 1864 - Aug. 1, 1866 all photographs required a tax stamp. The stamp was supposed to have the date, and the photographers initials written on it when the CDV was sold, but you will find some with the date and no initials and some with initials and no date and some without either. CDV's with these stamps, or a mark on the back that indicates a stamp was there and removed, can be dated from this time period - Aug 1, 1864 to Aug. 1, 1866.
Photo selling for less than 25 cents.......required 2 cent tax stamp. Photo selling for 26 - 50 cents......required 3 cent tax stamp. Photo selling for 50 cents - $1........Required 5 cent tax stamp.
The tax was amended in Mar. 1865 and included a reduction in the tax on CDV's selling for less than 10 cents to 1 cent tax stamp.

Unknown Private of the 16th.Iowa Vols.(Union) in his Uniform.