BUST VIEW OF 50TH VIRGINIA ADJUTANT AND LATER CS ENGINEER WITH OLD INK ID

$950.00

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Item Code: 1138-1346

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CDV is of John W. Amiss sporting a goatee and an open light-colored shell jacket with white shirt and dark bowtie.

Contrast is light and the photographer has used a pencil to artistically darken Amiss’ beard, hair and eyebrows. Mount and paper are in good condition. Bottom center of the mount has an old ink ID of “JOHN W. AMISS.”

Reverse has no photographer’s imprint but does have a period pencil inscription of “ST. LOUIS, MO. GENL FLOYD’S STAFF.”

Image is from the collection of the late William A. Turner.

John William Amiss was born June 25, 1835.

Records show that Amiss submitted a pay voucher for work he did as a drill master and ordnance officer for the brigade of General Floyd from June 27 to September 17, 1861. Following this, Amiss was commissioned as adjutant of the 50th Virginia Infantry on July 4, 1862 and was wounded in the arm at Kelly’s Ford on January 30, 1863. He resigned August 22, 1863 and his letter of resignation is worth quoting in its entirety as it fills in more of his early war service and shows his martial spirit. It reads:

“I HEARWITH RESPECTFULLY TENDER MY RESIGNATION AS 1ST LIEUTENANT AND ADJUTANT OF THE 50TH REGT. VA. INFANTRY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS, VIZ,

THAT I AM A MISSOURIAN BY ADOPTION AND MY INTIMATE FRIENDS AND PERSONAL INTERESTS ARE WITH THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ARMY. (AND HAD IT NOT BEEN AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR FOR FEAR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROCLAIMING MARTIAL LAW IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS WHERE I RESIDED, WHERE I WAS DAILY THREATENED) I WOULD HAVE JOINED THE MO. ARMY UNDER GENL. STERLING PRICE WHICH WAS BEING RAISED, BUT NOT AWARE OF IT MYSELF AT THE TIME.

I HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM INPRISONMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVING BEEN CAPTURED AT CAMP JACKSON, ST. LOUIS, MO.

I HAD THE CAUSE OF SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE AT HEART AND THEREFORE CAME SOUTH EARLY IN MAY 1861, AND HAVE BEEN IN THE CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL ARMY SINCE JUNE 1861. I AM NOW ANXIOUS TO BE PERMITTED TO JOIN THE MO. COMMAND.”

Unfortunately, available records on Amiss end there. Other online data does show him as serving in the Confederate Engineers as well as with the Mississippi Torpedo Squadron. There is also a listing saying that he rode with Forrest.

After the war Amiss moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where his obituary says he “married and reared a large family.” The obituary also states that he served throughout the four years of the war and was a member of Camp 17, United Confederate Veterans.

John W. Amiss died in Baton Rouge on February 14, 1896 and is buried there in Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.  [ad] [ph:L]

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