Description
Bust portrait identified as Lieutenant John Stoyell of New York. John would initially muster as a private with Company L of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery in December, 1863. The following February he would receive promotions to corporal and sergeant within weeks of each other. Despite the regiments designation as a heavy artillery unit, beginning with the Overland Campaign, they would leave their big guns behind and pick up a musket in it’s place, serving as an infantry unit. During the Overland Campaign, they would fight in nearly a dozen battles and suffer a total of 305 casualties. The Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1864 would follow right on it’s heels and the regiment would lose another 250 men. The Siege of Petersburg and the Appomattox Campaign would be the last of the fighting the regiment would see. In all, they would suffer 824 casualties during the conflict. In June of 1865, those remaining from the regiment would transfer into the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery including John. He with serve with the 2nd until September of that year when he was finally discharged for good in Washington. This view is back marked out of Washington and John presumably sat for this photo around that time. A period ink signature on the reverse reads “John Stoyell 2nd Lt. 2nd N.Y.”.
