This eagle masthead discharge is filled out in legible ink for Private Charles A. Barker of Company C, 23^rd Massachusetts Infantry. The document has browned some with age and has two horizontal fold lines and two small holes in the upper right corner. It is stamped on the reverse with an April 18, 1868 bounty payment stamp with another on the upper left of the front. The discharge is signed at bottom by three different officers,1^st Lieutenant John W. Means of the 8^th U.S. Infantry as mustering officer, Addison Center as captain commanding the regiment and Barker’s company commander 1^st Lieutenant John R. Lakeman.

Charles Augustus Barker was born in Quincy on July 22, 1841. He was listed as a 20-year-old stonecutter when he enlisted as a private in Company C, 23^rd Massachusetts Infantry on October 9, 1861. He was discharged on October 13, 1864. During his time with the regiment it served primarily with the 18^th Corps and were engaged at Roanoke Island, New Berne, Kinston, Whitehall, Drewry’s Bluff, Cold Harbor and Petersburg.

After the war Barker moved to Pennsylvania where he died on April 30, 1920 and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery located in Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Aside from the fold lines and two small holes mentioned above, there is also some residue from late 19th century glue on the reverse.    [ad][ph:L]

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