William Henry Tipton (1850–1929) was born in Gettysburg, and began apprenticing to photographer brothers Isaac and Charles Tyson at the age of twelve. Although the Tysons closed shop during the Battle of Gettysburg, “According to Tipton’s obituary, Tipton assisted Mathew Brady, the famous Civil War Photographer, in photographing scenes of the battlefield in the days following” (“William Tipton”). In 1866 Tipton and a partner, Robert Myers, purchased the Tyson studio, and in 1880 Tipton went into business on his own, as the W. H. Tipton Company. He photographed views of the battlefield, war monuments, and the surrounding town, and made portraits of tourists and veterans. He also served on the Gettysburg town council and was active in the Republican Party, serving a term as a state representative. He championed several controversial efforts to promote Gettysburg tourism and commercialize memorialization of the battlefield.

Batteries B and L of the 2^nd US Artillery were attached to the US Cavalry Corps and boasted an armament of six 3” Ordnance Rifles.  Tipton photographed this marker and position before the landscape along the Granite Schoolhouse Road gave way to the current expanded woodlot – giving us a more period view of the field closer to how it appeared during the battle. Just over the left gun in the photo is the tall barn of the Spangler Farm, now a restored and interpreted field hospital site that cared for over 1,900 wounded men of the 11^th Corps.  Though the guns are no longer in this spot, the marker tablet is still bordered by the same stone wall shown in this photo. The photo measures 9.9” x 8.25” and shows little to no corner wear.  A very subtle crack in the gloss finish is noted at top left but does not noticeably detract from the image. A penciled “X” can be found on the back at the lower right corner, along with a loose note paper that says “Helen Nett Bookstore in G’burg, years ago – source of photos (all Tiptons)”.

Tipton’s photographic collection – including early prints such as this – helped to shape popular memory of the battle and are an important but rare record of the Gettysburg battlefield’s evolving place in history.  This print is part of a singular private collection and archive acquired by the Horse Soldier and would make quite the unique and important addition to any Civil War or Gettysburg-centric collection.  [cm][ph:L]

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