Tintype shows Sergeant Samuel Akins seated at a table. He wears a dark forage cap with gilt letter “C” on the top of the crown and a dark nine-button frock coat with gilt buttons and Sergeant’s chevrons. The coat is opened a bit to reveal a dark shirt underneath. He also wears light trousers. At the waist is a belt with a gilted two piece tongue and wreath buckle. Akins’ hand partially obscures a holstered pistol attached to his belt and, clenched in his teeth is a cigar.

Image is just a bit on the dark side but is otherwise very clear. It comes housed in a decorative mat and frame in a split leather case.

Behind the image is a slip of paper with the ID written in modern ink and reads “SGT. SAMUEL AKINS / CO. C / 138^TH P.V.” The rank and Company letter match what is seen in the image. The item has been in a private collection for many years and there is no reason to doubt the ID.

Samuel Akins was born October 5, 1832 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in Company A, 4^th Pennsylvania Infantry on April 20, 1861 and was carried on the rolls as Samuel “AIKENS.” He was mustered out on July 27, 1861.

On August 20, 1862 the 29 year old Akins enlisted as a Private in Company C, 138^th Pennsylvania Infantry and at some undisclosed date was promoted to Color Sergeant.

The 138^th guarded the Baltimore and Ohio railroad until June of 1863 when it moved to Harpers Ferry. From there it moved to Washington, D.C. and then to Frederick where it participated in the pursuit of Lee’s army after Gettysburg. The regiment saw service with the 3^rd and 6^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac and was engaged at Mine Run and the Wilderness. During the latter battle, on May 6, 1864, Akins was wounded severely in his left forearm which necessitated an amputation. He was discharged for disability at Philadelphia on May 30, 1865.

His obituary reads as follows:

“Death Claims Another Veteran - Samuel Akins is the Eleventh Member of Zook Post to Die Within Two weeks

Samuel Akins, an aged resident of Bridgeport, died last evening. Deceased was the eleventh member of Zook Post, No 11, G A R, who died during the past two weeks.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Akins joined Company A, Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, and later was transferred to Company C, 138th Regiment, as color sergeant. During the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864 he was badly wounded in the right shoulder. On arriving at the field hospital it was found that the arm would have to be amputated. After being in the hospital for several weeks Mr. Akins was honorably discharged from the army.

Deceased has always taken an active interest in Zook Post, No 11, GAR and served as commander of the Post and was also coroner of Montgomery County.”

Akins died on March 2, 1916 and is buried in St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  [ad]

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