Description
Carte view identified as Edwin R. Pierce of New York. Edwin would muster as a private with Company G in June of 1861 at Long Island. Initially the regiment would be sent to Washington to serve in the defenses there but would play an active role in the fight at Ball’s Bluff in October of that year. The following year, Edwin would see promotions to 1st sergeant, 2nd lieutenant and lastly, 1st lieutenant in November, 1862. The men of the 42nd would be kept busy during both the Peninsular Campaign and Maryland Campaigns of 1862. Nearly a dozen engagements in total for the year to include Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, as well as two of the wars most significant battles, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Just prior to Fredericksburg, Edwin would be dismissed from the service but I could not locate the reason. Whatever the reason, it was overturned and Edwin was mustered back into the 42nd in late July, 1863. This time with a commission to captain of Company E. He would miss the Gettysburg Campaign but would be present for both the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaigns which were carried out during the final months of 1863. By March of 1864 however, Edwin would be suffering from some health concerns and was discharged for a disability in March. This example has a period pencil inscription across the front bottom reading “Edwin R. Pierce”. A second pencil inscription on the reverse reads “42 N.Y.V.”. Back marked out of New York.
