This charcoal drawing is of Sergeant Frank F. Head of Company C, 84^th New York Infantry also known as the 14^th Brooklyn Militia.

The drawing is still housed in the original tiger stripped wood frame. Overall the item meas. approx. 24.50 x 28.25 inches. The frame has a wide border of approx. 2.75 inches.

The black and white drawing is a ¾ standing view of Sergeant Head in the pre-war militia uniform of the 14^th. He wears a tall shako with New York state shield plate on the front and a pompom on the crown. The chin strap of the shako passes under the subjects chin. He wears a frock coat with a high collar and three rows of buttons. The collar has two rows of lace on each side like a US issue cavalry or artillery shell jacket while on each shoulder there is a brush epaulette. Each sleeve bears a large set of Sergeants chevrons. Head also wears white cross belts and a sash with waist belt and rectangular plate. Sergeant Head is shown posed by a table on which rests his overcoat which also has Sergeants chevrons on it.

The background has light and dark shades of gray giving a cloud like effect. To the right of the Sergeant as one looks at the artwork there is a written caption that reads “FRANK F. HEAD DIED ON THE FIELD BULL RUN VIRGINIA JUL 22^ND 1861.” There is also a brass plate that has darkened with age attached to the bottom edge of the frame which reads “FRANK F. HEAD DIED ON BATTLEFIELD BULL RUN VIRGINIA JULY 22, 1861.”

The drawing is really well done and the quality of the work is very good. An on-line search revealed another drawing of Head in civilian clothes and the facial features of this drawing and the one on the net are very close.

The artwork is done on canvas. The upper left corner has a small hole that can only be discerned if light is shining on the back of the piece. The frame has a number of chips along the top edge as well as several smaller ones scattered around the perimeter. The upper and lower right corners both have chipped corners.

With the item is an account of Sergeant Head’s story. This is written in modern pen and was no doubt copied from a book or newspaper. It reads

“FRANK F. HEAD (1835-1861) SERGT. 84^TH NY (14^TH BROOKLYN INFANTRY), CO. C. HEAD IS NOT BURIED IN GREEN-WOOD ; HE IS INTERRED ON THE BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD WHERE HE FELL, AND A CENOTAPH TO HIM IS ON THE GREEN-WOOD GRAVESTONE OF HIS BROTHER, HENRY HEAD. AFTER ENLISTING AT BROOKLYN AS A SERGT. MAJOR ON APRIL 18, 1861, HE MUSTERED INTO THE 14^TH ON MAY 23^RD. HEAD WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE OF FIRST BULL RUN, VIRGINIA ON JULY 21, 1861, AND SUCCUMBED THE NEXT DAY. HIS BODY WAS BURIED AT SUDLEY’S CHURCH, VA. QUARTERMASTER ALEX BARNEY TOLD THIS STORY ABOUT HEAD’S LAST BATTLE AND HOW HIS NAME WAS MEMORIALIZED:

JUST AS WE WERE GOING INTO BATTLE, GEN. WADSWORTH-THAT GREY HAIRED OLD VETERAN WHOM ALL THE SOLDIERS LOVED- RODE UP. HE HELD HIS REVOLVER IN ONE HAND AND WITH THE OTHER HE CAUGHT THE EDGE OF THE COLORS AND SIAD “FOLLOW ME BOYS!” HEAD REPLIED “GENERAL, I’LL FOLLOW YOU ANY WHERE. WE CHARGED AMONG A LOT OF SMALL PINES WHEN, LOOKING BACK, WE FOUND THAT OUR LINE HAD BEEN BROKEN AND THAT WE WERE OCCUPYING AN ADVANCED POSITION. WE COULD SEE THE REBELS SOME DISTANCE IN FRONT OF US, AND FOR A MOMENT WE WERE UNDECIDED WHAT TO DO. IT WAS HERE THAT FRANK HEAD RECEIVED HIS FATAL WOUND. WE HELPED HIM ALONG FOR A WHILE AND THEN HE BEGGED US TO LEAVE HIM. “NEVER MIND ME, BOYS, SAVE THE COLORS!” WE MADE HIM AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE AND PRESSED FORWARD. HE DIED SOON AFTER, BUT HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED AND HIS NAME PERPETUATED IN FRANK HEAD POST #16 GAR BROOKLYN.

BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE MENTIONS FRANK HEAD AS STANDARD BEARER.

The glass will be removed from the frame for shipping.

We cannot guarantee that the glass will arrive unbroken.

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