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1/6 AMBROTYPE PHOTO – OLIVER PUTNAM, 3rd MASS. CAV. WITH HANDWRITTEN DESCRIPTION

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This ambrotype image features Oliver J. Putnam, a young cavalryman wearing a “wheel” cap - more reminiscent of the m1830 Fatigue Cap or civilian style caps popular with working-class folks of the period.

According to official records, Oliver was a 19-year-old carpenter when he enlisted on 11/31/1861. He mustered in on that same day as a private in Company M of the 3^rd Massachusetts Cavalry.  When his term of enlistment was up, he re-enlisted on 2/1/1864 and served until he was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 9/28/1865.  He held the position of commander of Massachusetts GAR Post #53 in Leominster, MA and remained active in veterans’ affairs until his death on July 24^th, 1937.

More insight is offered by a small, period-inked note found tucked behind the photo in its case; “Oliver J. Putnam. Picture taken at Ayer in 1^st uniform he wore in Independent Co. 2^nd unattached Mass. Cav. For 2 ½ years. 41^st Inf. Was made 3^rd Cav at New Orleans and the 2^nd (?) Co’s L & M was added as whole units and 3^rd company was [divided] up to make 12 Co’s Cav. Capt. Dure(????)”  Another note, in the same hand and on the same paper, is headed with a numeral “II” and the information seems unrelated (“that to have them fetched(?) overboard into the Miss. River by Shurlerant (1^st Lieut) and Perkins 1^st Lieut of Co. Perkins was command as long as company was made/induty(?) and killed at Clinton, La.”

The 3rd Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized by consolidating the 41st Massachusetts Mounted Infantry and the 2nd Battalion Massachusetts Cavalry on June 17, 1863.  Being a technically unattached trooper may explain away the somewhat outdated headgear.  The 2^nd Massachusetts is also known for having within its ranks a full battalion of volunteer troopers from California, with the initial company of 100 west-coasters being deemed the “California 100”, while the 3^rd Massachusetts was formed in June of 1863 when the 2^nd Massachusetts Cavalry and the 41^st Massachusetts Mounted Infantry were consolidated.  From there, they would see service in the Red River Campaign and the Valley Campaign of 1864.

The image itself is encased in a brass frame with fronting glass and contrast tint backing. The frame is oval in shape, with decorative patterning at the corners and along the edges.  The frame tucks securely into a matching case made of black compressed paper with wood framing.  Each half is embossed with floral decorative patterning and are separated from one another by the loss of the fabric hinge (not torn - fully unattached and missing).  Some minor, wear-associated loss of the outer black finished layer is noted along the top of the center oval embossment and along the edges. Cased photo measures 3.1” x 3.6”.

A very interesting item for the Cavalry enthusiast or the Civil War image collector. [cm][ph:L]

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