Presided over the trial of the President Lincoln conspirators and was chosen to accompany the body of Mr. Lincoln to Springfield, Illinois for burial in 1865!

Photograph by Mathew Brady

(1802-86) Graduated in the West Point class of 1822. Hunter was invited by President Elect Abraham Lincoln to travel with him on the inaugural train to Washington in February 1861. Selected for high command by President Lincoln himself, Hunter became the 4th highest ranking officer in the volunteer army. His field service included the 1st battle of Bull Run where he was wounded, the battle of Secessionville, S.C., and the battle of Piedmont, Va. He was also known for his 1862 order to abolish slavery in the Department of the South; an order that was instantly repudiated by Lincoln, he presided at the court martial of General Fitz John Porter, he ordered the burning of the buildings of the Virginia Military Institute, in Lexington, Va., in 1864, and he presided at the trial of the President Lincoln conspirators. He also was chosen to accompany the body of Abraham Lincoln to Springfield, Illinois for burial in 1865.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 3 1/4 card. Bust view pose wearing cape. Backmark: Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries, No. 352 Pennsylvania Av., Washington, D.C., and Broadway & Tenth St., New York, with partial 2 cents blue U.S. Internal Revenue Proprietary tax stamp on the reverse. Card has been trimmed. Sharp image. Desirable pose.