This is one of two pencil sketches by the same hand and is titled at upper left “Camp Lyon,” a common designation in US records for Fort Lyon, laid out in September 1861 southwest of Alexandria, one of the outlying fortifications in the Washington defenses. This has recently been matted and framed, with the frame measuring 17 ¾” x 14 ¾” and the sketch 9 ½” x 7 ½”. On the reverse is a copy of a modern note reading: “Seymour O. Cook went out as a musician a while in the civil war, and sent these drawings for friendship’s sake. Some artist friend of his drew them and he sent them to Leonard Redfield. They are southern view, but should have written on, but are just as they came.”

The writer of the note clearly refers to Seymour O. Cook who served as a musician in the 3^rd Vermont, enlisting 6/1/61, mustering in 7/16/61, and being discharged for disability 6/18/62. He enlisted again 8/18/63, mustered into Co. B of the 7^th Vermont 10/9/63 and was promoted Principal Musician 11/1/64, serving until muster out 8/29/65. The 7^th VT was a deep south regiment. The 3^rd did serve early in the war around Washington, so there is nothing inherently improbable in him obtaining a sketch of Camp Lyon.

The scene corresponds in some respects to published photos of the fort. We note that at center two silhouette figures seem to be on guard on top of a parapet behind which are three cannon. Similar details show in a photo of the 26^th NY on parade in front of the fort, though the guns are in embrasures,  there are more figures along the parapet, and the full extent of the fort is shown in what appears to be a bare landscape with clear fields of fire and no trees or buildings nearby. Here a few trees have been cut, but others are standing and there are several buildings, and the fort appears much smaller: it actually covered nine acres and mounted some thirty-one guns, both heavy rifles and mortars. It might be that the sketch is meant to convey an early stage in the fort’s construction, though we note that in the center background is what appears to be a substantial building with a tower that seems out of place and dimly reminiscent of another Civil War photograph, though we cannot place it, and we note that the other sketch by the same hand seems also to combine elements of photographs so we don’t feel we can date them, though they may well have come out of the Redfield family with an attribution to Cook.    [sr][ph:L]

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