Original William Tipton image taken on Devil’s Den, October 10, 1897 of the military/social group Putnam Phalanx.  The group received its namesake in honorable mention of General Israel Putnam who is widely known for his actions and bravery at the Battle of Bunker Hill.  Originally social in nature, the organization was set up like the military with ranks and officers.  At the outbreak of the Civil War the group would equip itself with items similar to a militia.  Many of its members enlisted for the Union in the Civil War, and depicted here, the majority of the men are wearing some kind of GAR medal/pin.  They are uniformly wearing an 1870s/80s pillbox hat that’s style is borrowed from the British military.  The difference here is they were worn by both the U.S Army and Cavalry, and were equipped with a gold chin strap over the crown with two U.S Eagle buttons distinguishing branch of service on either side of the hat.  Each gentlemen pictured is also wearing a 5-button sack coat and some have Sergeants stripes and Officer’s straps affixed on sleeves and shoulders.

The rock formation of Devil’s Den is distinct in the image.  The group stands around two flags; the American Flag on the left and a flag with the image of General Israel Putnam on the right.  This is a very clear and crisp image in great condition.  The image measures 15 ½” x 9 ½”.  Image comes in nice, original frame that has a few nicks on the edges, and measures 20” x 13 3/4”.  On reverse, the photo is secured with a 16” x 10” wood piece of tagboard.   There are two loop pictured hangers and original hanging wire is intact.

In faint white writing on the left-hand sign of the image is written “4822 EXC. PUTNAM PHALANX/ OF HARTFORD CONN./ CONDUCTED BY THE B&O RR/ AT DEVIL’S DEN/ GETTYSBURG OCT 10 1897.” The group had a drum and fife corps, and it’s possible that some of these men were part of this organization, because there is a person standing in the middle with a fife. [MK] [PH:L]

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