Description
Carte view identified as Lieutenant Colonel Orson Moulton of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Orson’s military career would begin in mid May of 1861 when he would take a commission as a 3rd lieutenant with the 3rd Massachusetts Rifles. A 3-month regiment, they would spend their entire term in the vicinity of Fort McHenry, performing guard and garrison duty. Discharged in August of that year, the Worchester resident would next take a commission as captain of Company H of the 25th Massachusetts in October of 1861. Initially he had contemplated joining the 15th Massachusetts Infantry, where his cousins Lafayette and Harrison Moulton were currently serving, but opted for a commission with the 25th instead. The regiment would take part in Battle of Roanoke Island, the expedition to New Berne as well as the Goldsboro Expedition late in 1862. The majority of 1863 would be spent carrying out various duties at New Berne where they would remain for most of the year. The first half of 1864 would see more of the same from the previous year. It wasn’t until May that they would take part in the Battle of Drury’s Bluff followed by the blood bath at Cold Harbor. Orson would be wounded during the latter engagement on June 3, 1864 and would be captured as well. He would be confined at Macon, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina until being exchanged in mid December of 1864. The war for Orson was over, he would be mustered out of service at the end of the month. This view most likely dates to his initial enlistment with the 25th. The numeral “25” can be seen on his cap and this one is back marked out of Worchester where the regiment was raised.
