Page meas. approx. 9.75 x 6.50 inches and contains a very well-drawn sketch of the headquarters building and tents of the 144^th New York Infantry in January of 1863.

The view is looking across a field toward a farmhouse situated at the far right. The house has a two story porch, a back ell and a separate summer kitchen. There is a small wagon or surrey parked in front of the house. Stretched out behind the house is a line of several trees without leaves. Between the two trees nearest to the house is a very large wall of stacked firewood. Moving further to the left there are tents stretched out among the trees with a log cook shed at far right. In the middle of the camp a soldier stands guard with his musket at “RIGHT SHOULDER SHIFT.”

In the foreground are two tree stumps and a covered Army supply wagon being pulled by what are no doubt 4 mules with a soldier riding one of them. In the field beyond the wagon are two soldiers walking toward the farmhouse with bayonetted muskets on their shoulders while another unarmed soldier walks toward them coming from the farmhouse.

Across the bottom of the page is the caption “HEAD QUARTERS OF THE 144^TH REGT. N. Y. VOLS.” The left corner has “JAN 1863” while the lower right has lightly penciled “FEBRUARY.” Drawing has a linear border with reverse arched corners.

The 144^th New York served in the defenses of Washington before going to the 7^th and then the 4^th Corps in the Department of Virginia before going to the 11^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac after Gettysburg. In August of 1863 the regiment was shifted to the Department of the South where it remained until the war’s end. The regiment saw action at Goose Creek, Virginia., Morris Island, Fort Wagner, John’s Island, Honey Hill and Deveaux’s Neck, South Carolina. During its service the 144^th lost 217 officers and men killed, died of wounds and disease as well as many more wounded.

Reverse of the page is blank. Paper has light surface dirt.

Also included with sketch is a facsimile copy of the cover to Holland’s sketchbook which reads, “SKETCHES OF VIRGINIA – SKETCHES AROUND WASHINGTON D.C., ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, UPTON’S HILL & CENTREVILLE. BY R. HOLLAND, MEMBER OF THE 9TH MASS. BATTERY”. Colorful flags flank the wording.

Richard Holland was born to Michael and Joanna Holland in Ireland on March 15, 1842. He came to the United States with his family at age 12 and settled in North Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Eventually Holland became an apprentice to Captain Lucius Richmond and learned the trade of a painter in which profession he was engaged when the Civil War began.

The now 21 year old Holland enlisted in the office of the selectman of North Bridgewater on July 29, 1862 and was assigned to the 9th Massachusetts Light Battery. At the time of his enlistment Holland was described as being 5’ 6 ½” tall with blue eyes, black hair and a dark complexion.

The 9th Massachusetts Battery served with the 5th and 9th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Private Holland served as the #4 crewman on a gun in the left section of the battery and was responsible for priming and firing the gun on command. He was present with the battery throughout its service being engaged at Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church, Totopotomoy, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher’s Run and the pursuit of Lee. The batteries heaviest loss occurred at Gettysburg where they were very heavily engaged on July 2nd on the Trostle farm. During that action they lost 8 men killed, 19 wounded and 1 missing. Holland was mustered out at the close of the war on June 6, 1865 and brought home with him a sketchbook in which he had kept drawings of people and places related to his service.

He was married twice. The first time to Miss Cecilia Pray in May of 1866. Sadly she died at age 36 of heart disease in April of 1880. The couple had two children, Charles born August 9, 1870 and Mary Cecilia born October 3, 1872.    Mr. Holland married for the second time on July 1, 1882 to Marietta M. Monk. The couple had no children.

After the war Holland resumed his trade as a painter. He became known for his skill graining and later in frescos. His paintings were found in churches throughout the area of his hometown as well as in the Brockton City Hall in Brockton, Massachusetts. His work in the town hall was considered “handsome and spirited.” The frescos depict the battle between the USS KEARSARGE and the CSS ALABAMA, Fort Sumter, the Monitor and the Merrimack, the 12th Massachusetts Battery going into action at Antietam, a Union drummer boy and a mounted cavalry scouting party led by his former employer Lucius Richmond.

Aside from the Brockton Town Hall, Holland also became known for smaller canvas paintings of still life, landscapes etc... However he avoided portraiture in which he felt he did not excel.

In 1884 he returned to Gettysburg as part of a commission to look into the placement of a memorial to the 9th Massachusetts Battery. While there he added to his wartime sketchbook numerous views of the Gettysburg battlefield.

Holland was a member of the Fletcher Webster Post #13 of the GAR and Appomattox Regiment of the Union Veteran’s Union. He was known for lending his artistic talents to any organization he was a member of and without payment.

When he died of pneumonia on January 12, 1906 he was remembered as a helpful, modest, unassuming and kind person. He is buried in Union Cemetery in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Holland’s military records accompany this item.  [SL]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.