CDV – “THE CHILDREN OF THE BATTLEFIELD” – EARLIER VERSION DATED 1865

$275.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 635-413

Here is a copy of the famous image that was found on the body of an unidentified Union soldier after the battle of Gettysburg. It came into the hands of Dr. John Bourns of Philadelphia, who placed articles in newspapers advertising its existence under the heading, “Whose father was he?”, describing the photo, and relating the circumstances of its discovery in an effort to identify the soldier. In November 1863 the children were positively identified as those of Philinda and Amos Humiston. Amos was a member of the 154th NY and had been missing since Gettysburg.

The matter became a cause celebre. In addition to the sentimental idea that Humiston had used his last few moments of life to take out the photo and gaze at his children, he became a stand-in for the hundreds of Union soldiers slain in the battle who remained unidentified and his children represented thousands who lost a father or had become orphans. Selling copies of the image became a fundraising effort under Bourns’s management, first to provide for the welfare of the Humiston family and then, even before the war was over, to establish an orphan’s asylum, which was eventually done at Gettysburg. Through their distribution the Humiston photos struck a chord in the public mind and the story was related in poetry and music. It also concentrated the desire and will to do something for the families and orphans of soldiers, though with a disappointing ending. The family derived little benefit from the sales and the orphan asylum itself was closed in 1877 amid charges of cruelty by its matron and embezzlement by Bourns.

Image features the three small children, seated, with names along bottom margin: “Frank…Frederick…Alice.”

Back mark reads, “Wenderoth, Taylor & Brown / Philadelphia. This is a copy of the Ferrotype found in the hands of Sergeant Humiston of the 154th N. Y. Volunteers as he lay dead on the Battle Field of Gettysburg.”

“The copies are sold in furtherance of the National Sabbath School effort to found in Pennsylvania an Asylum for dependent orphans of Soldiers, in memorial of our Perpetuated Union.”

“This picture is private property and cannot be copied without wronging the Soldier’s Orphans for whom it is published.  Philadelphia, Sept. 23d,1865. J. Francis Bourns”.

Image is clean and clear.  Excellent Gettysburg collectible.  [sl]

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