CDV is a three-quarter standing view of 2nd Lieutenant William Lowell Putnam. He wears a dark frock coat with 2nd Lieutenants shoulder straps tightly buttoned down the front. At his waist is his sword belt with rectangular eagle plate. The plate is the NCO variety with the applied silver wreath. Also at his waist is his Model 1850 Foot Officer's sword. Just visible in his right hand is his forage cap. Image is clear with good contrast. "20th MVM" is written in pencil on bottom edge of the mount. This writing looks to be modern.

The reverse has photographers imprint of WHIPPLE...BOSTON. Reverse also has collector information in pencil. ID is confirmed by an on-line database.

William Lowell Putnam was born July 9, 1840 in Boston. He was a law student when the Civil War began. He was commissioned 2nd  Lieutenant in Company E, 20th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, on July 10, 1861. He was mortally wounded in his bowels at Ball's Bluff, Virginia, on October 21, 1861. Lieutenant Putnam was transported across the Potomac River to the regimental hospital in Maryland, where he died the next day. His comrade, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was also wounded and brought to the hospital. In his diary, Holmes wrote: "I remember poor Willy Putnam's groans - and his refusing to let the Dr. operate on him, saying he knew the wound was mortal and it would only be more pain for nothing." Later, Holmes wrote: "I remember [Surgeon Nathan] Hayward's saying 'It is a beautiful face.' or something of the sort & looking up & seeing Willy Putnam, calm & lovely, and being told or knowing he was dead."

Putnam's body was returned to Cambridge where it was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.

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