Description
Pair of two carte views identified as Corporal Lebricht Boetzel of the 2nd New Jersey Infantry. Lebricht would muster as a corporal with “D” Company in May, 1861. The remainder of that year would be mostly uneventful for the 2nd New Jersey. It was until 1862 when the regiment embarked for the Virginia Peninsula as part of the Peninsular Campaign, that they would be first tested in battle. Over the next 8 months, they would take part in nearly a dozen major engagements, fighting through the Peninsular Campaign, Pope’s Campaign into Northern Virginia and the Maryland Campaign. They would get no rest from the fighting the following year as they took part in both the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaign’s as well as Bristoe and Mine Run. Following winter quarters at Brady Station, the regiment would play a major role in the first engagement of 1864, slugging it out at the Wilderness beginning on May 5th. Somewhere during the confusion, as the 2nd New Jersey fought toe to toe with Confederate forces in dense woods, Lebricht would go missing on the second day. Presumed killed during the battle, his body was never recovered and he was declared a casualty of war. These two views of Lebricht were taken in the same Newark studio prior to the regiment leaving for Washington in late June, 1861. While he does wear a civilian coat in the first image, he does have a uniform worn under the heavy coat. The reverse of both cards are identified with what appears to be a mix of both period pencil inscriptions as well as more modern notations. An identical view of Lebricht is shown on the HDS which does confirm the id. Nice pair of images.
