Description
Rare war date carte view of Confederate General Henry Sibley. Sibley was a career officer in the United States Army who went on to command a brigade of Confederate cavalry units during the Civil War. In 1862, he attempted to forge a supply route from California and appropriate Colorado gold mines to replenish the Confederate treasury. After capturing Albuquerque and Santa Fe, he was forced to retreat after losing the Battle of Glorieta Pass (in today’s New Mexico). He was subsequently given minor commands in southern Louisiana operations, and never escaped the reputation that he was an alcoholic. In addition to his fighting record, Sibley designed an easy-to-pack tent and stove that were ubiquitous during the Civil War. This is an exquisite and rare view of the general. It does unfortunately have some staining to the surface as a result of how the albumen was mounted to the card stock. Rather than using blank card stock, a card was used that had the pre-printed decorative border printed on the card for use with a vignette view and it has over the years began to bleed through the albumen. Regardless a rare and very nice view of the general. An old ink id across the front bottom reads “Maj. Gen. Sibley”. This does have a canceled tax stamp on the reverse also. No back mark.
