Description
Very rare cabinet card view of Virginia native, “Texas Jack” Omohundro. At the start of the Civil War, Omohundro attempted to join the Confederate Army with his older brother, Orville. He was twice refused for his age, but was allowed to serve as a courier at the headquarters of the Virginia Militia under Major General John Floyd. Because of his youth and knowledge of the countryside, he became known as the “Boy Scout of the Confederacy”. In February 1864, at the age of 17, he successfully enlisted as a private in Company G of the 5th Virginia Cavalry, and was soon serving directly in generalJ.E.B. Stuart’s command as a courier and scout. At the Battle of Yellow Tavern, he delivered a scouting report to Stuart only minutes before the general was killed in battle. At the Battle of Trevilian Station, Omohundro was wounded and admitted to the Confederate States General Hospital in Charlottesville on June 20, 1864. After recovering from his injuries, and a short leave home, he returned to his company and scouted under the command of General Lunsford Lomax. Following the Third Battle of Winchester, the 5th Virginia Cavalry was consolidated with the 15th Virginia Cavalry, where Omohundro scouted under General Fitzhugh Lee during the last months of the war. Post war he began working as a cowboy participating in cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail, during which time he was given the nickname, “Texas Jack”. In 1869, Jack met and befriended William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, who was working with the 5th US Cavalry, and Jack was hired as a scout and trail guide during the Indian Wars. He would later star in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show from 1872 until 1877. He would live a very storied life up until his death from pneumonia in 1880. This popular view of Omohundro bears an old ink inscription along the front bottom reading, “J. B. Omohundro 1876 “Texas Jack”. Additionally, a second inscription on the reverse reads, “ “Texas Jack” J. B. Omohundro with Buffalo Bill at the Arches Theater 1876. Property of John R. Clemons”. Back marked out of Maryland. Exceptionally rare view!
