Description
Sixth plate tintype and cabinet card of brothers John J. Payne and Robert C. Payne of the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Both would enlist on July 23, 1861 and be mustered into Company B. John would muster as a corporal while Robert would muster as a 1st sergeant. The tintype view is identified on the back of the plate in very faint writing which reads ” Corp J. J. Payne Co. B 8th Pa Cav”. John sits dressed in his cavalry service jacket with is felt cap resting on the table beside him. Now the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry was one hard fought unit. If you can think of a battle, these guys were pretty much there. Nearly 30 campaigns in total. The majority of which were some of the largest and fiercest battles of the war. John would somehow manage to survive unscathed throughout the war and be discharged in July, 1864 never moving past the rank of corporal. His brother Robert seems to have been a bit more ambitious and his military career exceptionally more exciting . He would receive promotions to both 2nd and 1st lieutenant during the second half of 1864. A brevet to captain would come in April, 1865. He would receive his first wound during the Battle of Falls Church when he was struck in the head by a lead ball in December, 1861. By the spring of 1862 he would find himself heading into the Peninsular Campaign slugging it out with rebel troops as McClellan made his push through the Peninsular. Next he would be captured at Fredericksburg and sent to Libby Prison for some time before being exchanged just in time to land himself on the Chancellorsville battlefield. Here he was wounded a second time by a bayonet which pierced his leg. Robert would survive the Gettysburg Campaign without a scratch but would be wounded once more before wars end when a third wound would strike him at Hatcher’s Run. 1865 would find Robert serving on the staff of General Gregg with the unfortunate luck of being captured just days before the end of the war at Farmville on April 6, 1865. The following month he would be discharged from the service. The card of Robert is a post war view of him dating to around the turn of the century. This may in fact be a funeral card after his death around 1920. These were both purchased from a family descendant back in 2002. These are accompanied by some research material on the 8th Pennsylvania and Robert’s service records. The view of John comes housed in a full patriotic thermoplastic case.
