Description
Fantastic carte view identified as John McNeil (McNeill) of the 84th New York Infantry, more affectionately known as the famed 14th Brooklyn. Earlier this year I sold another view of John, taken while he was serving as a captain with the regiment. Originally, John had joined the 14th Brooklyn in 1856, before enlisting for the war effort in May, 1861. Things did not begin well for the future captain. Just two months after his enlistment, he would be captured at Bull Run on the 21st of July. John would spend the next two days confined in Richmond before being exchanged and returning to his regiment. His promotion to 1st sergeant would come the following month. In November of that same year, he would be captured once again. This time while on picket duty at Falls Church, Virginia. The next year would be spent in confinement inside a Confederate prison before being exchanged the following December. Returning to the regiment in 1863, he would serve with the regiment through the campaigns of that year including being present at Gettysburg, where they would fight at multiple points across the field of battle. 1864 would see the regiment fighting at such places as the Wilderness, Laurel Hill and Spotsylvania before mustering out of service in June. John would receive a brevet to major following the close of the war. This wonderful pose of McNeil show the shows him dressed in his infantry frock and wearing his 1st sergeants rank. A SNY plate is visible worn around the waist as well as a large 2nd Corps badge sewn to the top of the cap. Great carte view, back marked out of Brooklyn.
