Description
Wonderful carte view of 1st sergeant Micajah H. Vincent of Hawley, Massachusetts. The former shoe maker would initially muster as a private with “H” Company of the 10th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in September, 1861. Serving with the Army of the Potomac, they would embark for the Peninsular during the spring of 1862. Following their first fight at Yorktown, a rapid succession of battles would follow. Fair Oaks, The Seven Days, Oak Grove, White Oak Swamp and lastly, Malvern Hill. Micajah would be wounded and captured in the latter battle on July 1, 1862. He would spend 20 days in confinement at Libby Prison before being paroled and rejoining the regiment at the end of July. Present for both the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg, he would receive a promotion to sergeant in November, 1862. His promotion to 1st sergeant would come in March,1863. Following the disastrous Mud March, the regiment would take part in the Chancellorsville Campaign, Gettysburg and Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns, where Micajah would be present for all of it. He would re-enlist at the end of the year and serve through the Rapidan Campaign of 1864. The year would begin with the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. Micajah would be captured once more at Spotsylvania on May 12th. He would be confined at Andersonville and Florence, South Carolina before being exchanged in December, 1864. With the enlistment for the 10th Massachusetts ending that July, Micajah would be transferred into the 37th Massachusetts Infantry while still imprisoned. Following his parole, he would remain with the 37th until transferring into the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in June, 1865. His final discharge would come the following month. Wonderful view of Micajah wearing his 1st sergeants rank and NCO trousers. Back marked out of Greenfield, Massachusetts, the 1st sergeant most likely sat for this view during his furlough following his re-enlistment in December, 1863. Beautiful carte!
