1860s CIVIL WAR GENERAL WILLIAM SPRAGUE CDV PHOTO RHODE ISLAND FLYING ARTILLERY
$ 5.28
Description
Rare and original, ca1860’s, CDV Photograph of Union Civil War Brigadier General and Governor of Rhode Island William Sprague by Mathew Brady. This outstanding, period photograph measures approx. 2 3/8” by 4” including its original, photographer’s card mount. The back of the mount is printed with text that reads “Major-General Sprague” but does not carry a photographer’s mark. This bust portrait of Sprague in uniform was originally taken by Mathew Brady. At the start of the Civil War William Sprague was the Governor of Rhode Island. At twenty-nine years old he was the youngest governor in the Union, sometimes he was referred to as the 'boy governor' a title he may have named himself for election purposes. As storm clouds gathered over the nation, Sprague made trips to Washington to talk with President Lincoln and Lt. General Winfield Scott. He gave them his guarantee that his state of Rhode Island would furnish an infantry regiment and a battery of light artillery for the defense of Washington. Just three days after Lincoln's call for volunteers in April 1861, the well trained and well equipped "Flying Artillery" left Providence for the front, and on April 28 Colonel Ambrose Burnside and Governor Sprague himself accompanied 142 men of the Rhode Island Detached Militia, from Exchange Place to their fateful encounter with the rebels at Bull Run. Sprague participated in the first Battle of Bull. He rode a white horse into battle, which was shot out from under him. He quickly mounted another horse and bravely rode on. It was the first bloody encounter with the enemy. Eleven men of the 1st Rhode Island were killed on July 21, 1861 including Lieutenant Henry A. Prescott of Company D, thirty-men were injured. The Second Regiment of Rhode Island had lost twenty-eight men, including Colonel John S. Slocum, Major Sullivan Ballou, and Captain Levi Tower. Fifty-six officers and men were wounded. Commissioned as a Brigadier General of Volunteers on August 9th 1861, he declined the appointment. On March 3rd 1863, he resigned as Governor to became United States Senator. Later that year senator Sprague married Kate Chase, the daughter of Salmon Chase who was both the Belle of Washington and a ruthless and savvy political captain of her widowed father’s 16 year pursuit of the Presidency. Sprague’s persona paled in the light of Kate Chase and it has been suggested by many historians that Kate’s choice of Sprague as a husband was motivated by the enormous wealth of his family which she planned to use to finance her father’s Presidential campaigns. This rare and original, CDV Photo is in very good condition. The Image exhibits sharp focus, strong contrast and rich tonality. There is some scattered spots of foxing to the photo and some soiling. It appears that the mount was ever so slightly trimmed at the right hand side (not affecting the Photo itself). A very rare and original, 1860’s CDV Photograph of Civil War General / Governor William Sprague by Mathew Brady and a fantastic addition to any collection!! Be sure to check out this seller’s other auctions for a number of other rare and original, Civil War Photographs which are also being offered for sale this week on eBay!! Overseas shipping is extra and cost will be quoted at bidders request. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax. Please check out other early and interesting items offered by this seller on ebay. Click Here to See Our Items We Have for Sale in the eBay Gallery and Click Here to Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers List. Important Notes about Shipping Charges: The amount quoted for Shipping & Handling is calculated by eBay and is equal to the EXACT amount charged by the Post Office plus a $1.00 "packing fee" - the $1.00 fee is our only compensation for the virgin packing materials we use on all of our professionally packaged boxes as well as our cost for the salaried help that does most of our packing - as I am sure you can see, we make NO profit on the Shipping charges and, in fact, our costs are usually greater than the $1.00 fee. Please contact us if there are any issues regarding the cost of shipping. Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution
