Description
Outstanding carte view of Private David Fikes of the 44th New York Volunteer Infantry, otherwise known as the “People’s Ellsworth Regiment”. Fikes would muster with “G” Company in October, 1861. The regiment first saw action during the Peninsular Campaign and by October 1862, battle deaths and disease had left only 200 men of the regiment’s original strength of 1100 members. David would number among those casualties. He would be severely wounded during the 2nd Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862 and would not return to the regiment until March of the following year. They were one of four regiments in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps, Army of the Potomac, which fought at Gettysburg. On July 2, 1863, at around 4:00 p.m., the second day of the battle, the men of the regiment would take part in the heroic defense of Little Round Top. The regiment would take part in every major engagement in which the Army of the Potomac would fight, from Yorktown to Petersburg. His service stripes are visible on the sleeve indicating he sat for this view most likely during the winter/spring of 1864 around the time of his re-enlistment. In October of 1864, Fikes would transfer into the 140th New York Infantry where he would serve as a sharp shooter until wars end. In June, 1865, he would transfer again. This time into the 5th New York Veteran Infantry. A promotion to corporal would come just prior to his final discharge in August, 1865. Fikes is shown here seated and dressed in his Zouave uniform issued to the regiment. Pinned to the breast of his jacket is a large Ellsworth Mourning Badge as he plays a tune of his flagonet. There is another known view of David dressed in this same uniform which was probably taken during the same sitting. No back mark on this one but what a great image from one of the wars most popular regiments!
