This pristine, Medical Dept. view of an amputee is identified as Nicholas Powers from New York. A full length, seated view, Powers is shown with his shirt partially removed so that his wound is visible.  On his lap he holds a chalkboard with the following written on it: “N. Powers / C 14^th N. Y. H. A. / 19961”.

Powers was born in County Cork Ireland, and died on May 6, 1886 in Ilion, NY; he is buried in St. Agnes Cemetery in Utica, NY.  Nicholas first enlisted at the age of 39 on 12/2/61 at Utica as Private.  On 12/5/61 he mustered into Co. E, 101^st New York Infantry.  On 12/24/62 he transferred into Co. E, 37^th New York as a result of unit consolidation. Powers was discharged for disability on 3/22/63 at Camp Pitcher, VA; according to his discharge he had been unfit for duty for 59 days “on account of Disability owing from sickness and old age”, having suffered from chronic diarrhea dating to his service during the Peninsula Campaign.

Powers enlisted again at the age of 41 on 7/28/63 as a private; on 9/11/63 he mustered into Co. C, 14^th New York Heavy Artillery. The regiment saw action during Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign at The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, & Hatcher’s Run. Nicholas was wounded in action on February 14, 1865, near Petersburg, resulting in amputation. An accompanying copy of his medical discharge, issued May 29, 1865 at Harewood General Hospital in Washington, D.C.,  states that he has been examined and found incapable of performing his duties because of “loss of the right arm near the shoulder by amputation for gunshot wound received Feb 14^th 1865 in battle near Petersburgh Va. a consequence of which he is totally disabled for military service and for civil occupation wholly.”

A very nice view, non-trimmed CDV with no backmark. This image is published on page 301 of "The Civil War: an Illustrated History" by Geoffrey Ward and the Burns brothers.

Accompanied by correspondence with his Powers’ great-grandson (as of 2006) who remembered stories of him, genealogical research information (including an 1884 photo of Nicholas with his six sons), as well as some pension and military records.