Image shows James E. Saunders in the uniform of a 1^st Lieutenant. He wears a dark frock coat with shoulder straps. Coat has top two buttons buttoned with a handkerchief stuffed into the coat where the third and fourth buttons would be. Strong period ink inscription at bottom of image reads “CAPT. J. E. SAUNDERS.

Image is fairly clean with good contrast and faint scattered foxing.

Reverse has photographer’s imprint for G. H. SCRIPTURE… PETERBORO, N. H. There is also a blue 2 cent tax stamp and some collector information in pencil.

James Eli Saunders was born in Philadelphia on December 22, 1831. He was residing in Peterborough, New Hampshire when he enlisted as a Private in Company G, 2^nd New Hampshire Infantry on May 20, 1861.

Private Saunders had quite a good record being promoted numerous times. He was made a Sergeant on January 1, 1862 and Sergeant Major September 1, 1863. He re-enlisted on January 1, 1864 and was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant on May 11, 1864, 1^st Lieutenant on June 24, 1864 and finally to Captain on July 10, 1864.

The 2nd New Hampshire saw action throughout the war losing heavily at 1st Bull Run, Williamsburg, 2nd Bull Run (where Saunders was captured and successfully escaped two weeks later,) Gettysburg and Cold Harbor. The regiment’s heaviest losses came at Gettysburg where it fought in the Peach Orchard at the apex of General Sickles’ line. There the regiment lost 22 killed, 127 wounded, 24 captured and 20 missing.

At the battle of Drewry’s Bluff then Lt. Saunders and another officer saw a Rebel flag planted in the ground not far from their works. The Lieutenants jumped over their works and charged for the flag but it quickly disappeared. Not to be denied they rounded up 20 Confederates and brought them into the Union lines.

Saunders resigned on May 30, 1865 and returned to Peterborough. He was active in the writing of his regiment’s history contributing several drawings and being pictured and mentioned several times.

Saunders died in Peterborough on February 3, 1911 and was buried there in Pine Hill Cemetery.  [ad]

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