Imprint of Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries

(1823-1874) Graduated 4th in the West Point class of 1846. He won two brevets and was severely wounded in the Mexican War. As chief engineer of the fortifications of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, he was a leading participant in the bombardment of Fort Sumter which were the opening shots of the Civil War. He later took part in General Ambrose E. Burnside's North Carolina expedition, and commanded the Department of North Carolina, the Department of Ohio, the Department of the South, and the Department of Florida respectively.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 3 7/8 card. Mount is trimmed. Half view pose in uniform with rank of major general. He is wearing a kepi with a U.S. hat wreath insignia and two stars clearly visible at the center representing his rank of major general. Backmark: Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries, Broadway & Tenth Street, New York & No. 352 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C., with 2 cents orange George Washington U.S. Internal Revenue tax stamp on the reverse. Light age toning, discoloration and minor wear. Very fine Mathew B. Brady image.