This small group of images contains five photographs and a Major’s shoulder strap. The first image in the group is a wartime quarter plate tintype of Casner as a Captain. He is posed in the position of “PARADE REST” in front of a crudely drawn wooded camp scene. He wears a Hardee hat with Infantry insignia on the front and a number “91” at center, a dark frock coat with Captains shoulder straps and matching dark trousers. At his waist is his sword belt with sash. Attached to the belt is the scabbard for his Model 1850 Foot Officer’s sword while the sword is displayed point down in front of him. The image is clear with good contrast. The photographer has touched the shoulder straps and buttons with gilt paint.  The image comes housed in a brass frame, mat and half of a cloth case. The back of the plate has “MAJOR JOHN F. CASNER 91^ST PENN. REGT. CO.K” in pencil. The inscription looks to be of 20^th Century vintage.

The next image in the group shows a Private standing with his musket at the position of “SHOULDER ARMS.” He wears a forage cap with a dark frock coat that is equipped with shoulder scales and matching dark trousers. At his waist is his belt with oval “US” plate, cap box and sword bayonet and scabbard. The musket he holds looks to be a Model 1841 Mississippi. The metal parts of the musket, belt plate, shoulder scales, bayonet grip and cap insignia and buckle are all tinted with gilt. The image is very clear with great contrast. There is some light surface flaking on the emulsion in the upper right hand corner but this is minor. The image comes in a brass mat and frame as well as a half cloth case. The back of the image has a pencil inscription just like the previous image described above. It reads “SGT. JOHN F. CASNER 91^st PENN. REGT. CO. K.” There was a John F. Casner Jr. in Company K and this is believed to be him. It is also thought that he was Major Casner’s son.

The third image in the group is a postwar copy of a wartime image. The image is cabinet card sized and shows Casner as a Captain with his arms crossed holding his slouch hat in his right hand. On the left chest is what appears to be a rather large ID badge or a 5^th Corp badge. There is a stain of blue ink in the lower right hand corner. The back has a pencil inscription that reads “MAJOR JOHN F. CASNER.” With his image is another one in similar format that shows a woman in a dark dress. This portly lady is believed to be Mrs. Casner but there is nothing written on the reverse.

The last photo of Casner in the group is a post card sized image of the Major as an older man with white hair and mustache. The reverse has an inscription in pencil that matches the inscriptions on the other pieces in the group. It reads “MAJOR JOHN F. CASNER 91^ST PENN. REGT. CO. K CIVIL WAR.” The image is clear with good contrast.

The single shoulder strap in the group has a triple border with an inner jaceron border of dead bullion with a black velvet rank field and bullion Major’s oak leaves. There is only one small moth nip on the rank field and the bullion thread has darkened with age. There are also one or two loose threads. The reverse of the strap has a coarse thread backing.

The last item in the group is a photograph of the panel dedicated to the 91^st Pennsylvania on the Pennsylvania State Memorial at Gettysburg. Visible at bottom under the listing for Company K is Casner’s name as Captain. The photo is mounted on heavy stock and meas. approx. 5.00 inches wide x 10.00 inches tall and is entirely legible.

John F. Casner, Sr. was 40 years old when he raised Company K of the 91^st Pennsylvania. He was commissioned Captain at Philadelphia on December 3, 1861. At the time of his commissioning he was working as a painter to support his wife, Adeline and their seven children.

Captain Casner went with his Company to the Virginia front where they were assigned picket duty until finally being attached to the 5^th Corps, Army of the Potomac before Antietam, however, they did not report to the Corps till just after the battle. Casner was present for Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomy, Bethesda Church and Petersburg. During all that time Captain Casner only missed duty between February 7, 1863-March 6, 1863 when he was sick.

During the siege of Petersburg Casner was wounded on October 27, 1864 at Hatcher’s Run. The nature of his wound is not specified but he was absent from the regiment into December. He was promoted to Major on April 3, 1865 and was mustered out at Washington, D.C. on July 10, 1865.

After the war Casner returned to his family in Philadelphia and continued his work as a painter. He was active in regimental reunions. He died on June 24, 1897.

John F. Casner, Jr. was born in Philadelphia in October of 1844. At the time of his enlistment in Company K on September 24, 1861 he was 18 years old. He was appointed Corporal October 8, 1861 and Sergeant on December 13, 1862. He was present at Gettysburg and in December of 1863 became a re-enlisted veteran. He ended the war as a 1^st Lieutenant being mustered out July 10, 1865. He lived in New Jersey later in life and died there on February 25, 1913. During his Army service he only missed a few days from sickness and looks to have been present for all the battles of his regiment.

A very nice complete and not often encountered father and son group.

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