Description
Carte view identified as Captain Henry Todd of the 8th New Jersey Infantry. Henry would begin his service with the 2nd New Jersey Infantry, serving as a private beginning in May, 1861. A 3-month regiment, he would be discharged with the regiment at the end of July. Two months later, Henry would muster with the 8th New Jersey. A promotion to sergeant major would come the following February and again to 1st lieutenant that October. His promotion to captain would come a year later. Attached primarily to the III Corps and later the II Corps, the 8th New Jersey would see countless battle honors to their credit. The regiment would fight in 38 major engagements, including Williamsburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomattox to name a few. At Gettysburg, the regiment took a fierce stand in the Wheatfield with a reduced strength of about 170 men, suffering 41 casualties. Henry would survive the better part of it unscathed, but his luck would run out at Spotsylvania. Wounded in the right leg and left foot during the engagement, he would be captured on May 12, 1864. 5 months in captively proved to be enough for Henry, and on October 15th, 1864, he was successful in making his escape. Returning to his regiment, he would serve until his discharge in July, 1865. This view shows Henry while serving with the 8th New Jersey. Dressed in his frock and wearing his captain’s shoulder boards, his cap rests on the pedestal beside him with the numeral “8” pinned to the front along with a 3rd Corps badge. Back marked out of Philadelphia, I would presume it was taken not long after his escape. This one was formally part of the Rick Carlisle collection and is identified on the reverse in his hand.
