Description
Outstanding grouping attributed to Hugh McDonald of the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Purchased from the family back in 2005 at Cedar Rapids. A former Irish immigrant and New York native, Hugh would move to Iowa in 1860. The following year he would muster with Company I of the 2nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry as a private in late May, 1861. Later that year he would spend a short stint in the General Hospital at St. Louis from September to October of 1861 after a fall while on duty at Bird’s Point. He would return to duty but the knee injury he received from the fall continued to plague him. In August, 1862 he would be discharged for a medical disability from the knee injury. The group consists of a sixth plate ruby ambrotype of Hugh dressed in his infantry frock and cap. His musket is held at his side while equipped with his cartridge box and US waist belt rig. A label is glued to the front of the case addressed to a Mrs. Catherine McDonald of DeWitt, Iowa requesting several 8 x 10 copies be made from the image. Hugh would marry Catherine sometime around 1865. Also included is a cdv album which was found with the image of Hugh containing 50 carte views. 14 of those views are of soldiers and generals including one seated gentleman with the number “2” pinned to the front of his cap. Unfortunately none of the views in the album are identified but many have Iowa back marks from DeWitt, Burlington, Mount Pleasant, Davenport and a couple others. Service records, research and some genealogical paper work are also included. Super sweet little grouping from Iowa!
