Description
Wonderful carte view of a Federal officer posed in the field with his mount. The officer appears to be either a major or colonel dressed in a double breasted frock with a large 6th Corps badge worn on the breast of the coat. Posed broadside to the camera, they stand among barren rolling hills. Saddle bags are draped over the rear of the saddle and his holstered revolver can be seen hanging from the saddle pommel. A modern pencil notation on the reverse of the card states that this view came from an album containing members of the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. The subject shown is in fact Lieutenant Colonel William Brisbane. His large lambchop sideburns and mustache are unmistakable. Commissioned Captain of Company C, 8th Pennsylvania Infantry on April 22, 1861. The 8th was part of the command of General Robert Patterson assigned to the Shenandoah Valley and therefore missed the 1st Battle at Bull Run. Brisbane was mustered out on July 29, 1861 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Two days later, on July 31, 1861, Brisbane was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 49th Pennsylvania Infantry. With the 49th Brisbane served in the Peninsula Campaign and at Antietam. He resigned October 15, 1862. Later, during the Gettysburg Campaign, he led a brigade of Pennsylvania Militia. He died on February 7, 1880 and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
