Description
Very nice carte view of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Newton Pearson. Robert would prove to be a very adept soldier. The21 year old, former brick layer would initially muster as a private with the 10th Illinois Infantry in late April, 1861. A 3-month regiment, he would be discharged that July. He skills did not go un-noticed. Two months later, Pearson would be commissioned a 1st lieutenant and adjutant with Company K of the 31st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His administrative and leadership skills were recognized by his superiors and he rose through the ranks rapidly. By April of the following year he would be promoted to major and 4 months later, to lieutenant colonel. He would participate in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion’s Hill, Vicksburg, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and Bentonville. In March of1865, he would receive a brevet brigadier general “for gallant and meritorious services.”, and was promoted to colonel the following month although he would be discharged before the promotion was approved. Quite an accomplishment for a young man of just 25 years of age by wars end. Robert is shown here dressed in his double breasted frock wearing either his major’s or lieutenant colonel’s shoulder boards. The back bears a period ink inscription which simply reads “For “Ella” which he has put in parenthesis. I would presume this was the nickname he referred to his wife by, Mary Elizabeth Pearson. Wonderful back mark by Barr & Young, Army Photographers, Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee. Rounded corners but a wonderful view.
