Description
Bust portrait carte view of Captain Lyman VanLoan of the 34th Massachusetts Infantry. The former railroad clerk would initially muster with the 8th Massachusetts Infantry for a 3 month term. Following his service with the 8th Massachusetts, VanLaon would be commissioned a 1st lieutenant with Company K. in August, 1862. The remainder of 1862 would be spent in the service of Washington D.C. with the following year occupying Harper’s Ferry and surrounding areas with just one minor skirmish at Berryville. In June of 1864, they would be attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division of West Virginia and would be tested in their first major action at New Market. Shortly after, the regiment would take part in Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley Campaign and would fight at such places as Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek. Lyman would be wounded during the action at Winchester in September, 1864 and receive his promotion to captain just days later. He would take a brief absence from the regiment to heal from the wounding before returning to command the regiment in 1865. Lyman would serve until June, 1865, when the regiment would be mustered out of service. This view bears a period ink signature on the reverse reading, “L. W. Van Loan 1st Lieut. Co. K. 34 Mass Vols”. Back marked out of Washington.
