Vignette bust view of Seymour in a dark double-breasted frock coat with brigadier general’s shoulder straps.

Image is clear but the contrast is light. Image also has some light surface dirt.

Reverse has a period ink inscription that reads “BRIG. GENL. TRUMAN SEYMOUR / U.S. VOLUNTEERS.” Reverse also has back mark for E. ANTHONY.

Truman Seymour was born September 24, 1824 in Burlington, Vermont. He attended Norwich University for two years before entering West Point in 1842.  He graduated in 1846 and was assigned to the 1st Artillery during the outbreak of the Mexican War.  He was promoted to first lieutenant for his actions during the battles of Contreras and Churubusco.  After the war, he returned to West Point and taught for three years, and then served during the Seminole War in Florida from 1856 to 1858.

When the Civil War broke out, Seymour was stationed in Fort Sumter, and was brevetted a major for his actions during the Confederate attack.  His first service came early in the war within the defenses of Washington where he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on April 28, 1862.  Seymour was assigned to a brigade within McCall’s division of the V Corps and led it during the battle of Mechanicsville. He then commanded the division during the battle of Malvern Hill as a result of McCall being captured at Frayser’s Farm.  He led troops during the Second Manassas, South Mountain, and Antietam campaigns which resulted in two brevet promotions in the regular army up to colonel.  In November of 1862, he was reassigned to Charleston Harbor and led a failed attack on Battery Wagner in July of 1863, where he was severely wounded.

When Seymour returned to duty in December of 1863, he was placed in charge of the District of Florida by General Quincy A. Gillmore.  In February of 1864, Seymour and his division captured the city of Jacksonville.  On February 20, Seymour and his division met approximately 5,000 Confederate at the battle of Olustee.  The battle was the largest fought in Florida, and was a Confederate victory.  Following the battle Seymour was relieved of command and sent to the Army of the Potomac.

He served in the battle of the Wilderness, and was captured.  He was exchanged and placed in charge of the third division of the VI Corps which he commanded through the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley, during the siege of Petersburg, and finally during the Appomattox campaign.  He was present when Lee surrendered to Grant, and received brevet promotions to major general of volunteers and brigadier general in the regular army for his actions during the final campaigns of the war.

After the war ended, Seymour remained in the Army and served again in the 5th Artillery, and later commanded forts in Florida, Fort Warren, Massachusetts (1869–70), and Fort Preble, Maine (1870–75). He retired from the army on November 1, 1876.

Seymour was also a watercolor painter, and his painting became prolific in Europe during his retirement. Although he is believed to have never sold his paintings, his body of work survives in museums and private collections.

Seymour received the degree of A.M. from Williams College in 1865 and spent his retirement in Europe and died while living in Florence, Italy. He was buried there in the Cimitero Evangelico degli Allori.  [ad]

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