Image shows William B. Gere in the uniform of a Field Grade Officer. He is posed holding his forage cap in front of him. He wears a dark double-breasted frock coat with Major’s or Lieutenant Colonel shoulder straps. Rank cannot be clearly seen. He also wears matching dark trousers with thin light colored leg stripe and a sash and waist belt with rectangular eagle and wreath plate. At his side is his foot officers sword while in his left hand is a forage cap with an infantry insignia on the front with the numeral “5” at center.

Image is clear and clean with good contrast. Bottom of mount is signed in period pencil “YOURS TRULY Wm. B. GERE.” Reverse has photographer’s imprint for WHITNEY’S, ST. PAUL.

William B. Gere was born in Chatfield, Minnesota in 1828. He was commissioned a Captain in Company B, 5^th Minnesota on March 2, 1862 and became Major three weeks later on March 24^th. The regiment was assigned to the Western Theater and saw its first action at Corinth, Mississippi on May 28, 1862.

Gere was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on August 31, 1862 and became a re-enlisted veteran on February 12, 1864. He remained with the regiment throughout its service in Mississippi, Minnesota, Dakota Territory, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama. By the time the war ended the regiment had been in 28 battles and engagements losing 90 men and officers to battle and 179 to disease not to mention the wounded and prisoners. The regiment suffered its heaviest loss at Nashville, Tennessee on December 16, 1864.

William B. Gere was mustered out at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on September 6, 1865.

Sometime after the war Gere moved to Alabama where he died at Bessemer on February 4, 1921. He was buried there in Cedar Hill Cemetery. [ad]

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