Description
Exceptional family photo grouping identified to Private William McDonald of the 101st Pennsylvania Infantry. The center piece of the grouping is a sixth plate ruby ambrotype of William himself. He would muster with “D” Company in November of 1861. The regiment would see it’s first action at Williamsburg in early May, 1862, followed by Fair Oaks near the end of the month and into June. William would however fall ill with typhoid fever during the campaign and on July 3rd, it would claim his life while at Portsmouth, Virginia. This view shows William dressed in his infantry frock and sporting a very rare ordinance belt plate which features a flaming bombshell. He is also armed with a large stag handled bowie knife and small Prescott pocket revolver. Brass numerals “101” and his company letter “D” are clearly visible on top of the cap. An old pencil id inside the case reads “Wm. McDonald” along with some other scribbles from the photographer. Included in the grouping is a second uncased sixth plate tintype of an unknown soldier. Presumably another family member. Additionally, two sixth plate images of his father, mother and sister. A 5th unidentified sixth plate is also included. These images were all found together and so we are selling them as a group.
