Military non-civil war CDVs

Military (Non-Civil War)

Mil1. R.B. Wilson, Photograph Gallery, Halifax, N.B. Pencilled on back "Jack Tan." Strong Naval CDV. VG. $150

Mil2. G.W. Pach, Photographer, West Point and New York. Cabinet Card of William Larned, 7th Cavalry. "Here we are sixty miles from Fort Rice in a delightful camp with a day's rest before us. We have had a pleasant and interesting march out with a fair proportion of rain and storm, but still altogether delightful. We make an imposing show on these rolling prairies -- 1500 men, 250 teamsters, 40 scouts, 250 wagons, 800 horses, 600 head of cattle and 1500 mules; too imposing, in fact, for the Indians who have not as yet put in an appearance." So reported 2nd Lieutenant Charles W. Larned of Company F, 7th U.S. Cavalry in a letter written to his mother from the 7th's camp along the Heart River, Dakota Territory on June 25, 1 873.

Five days earlier, on June 20, the young cavalry officer and his regiment, Custer's famed 7th Cavalry, accompanied by supporting troops and a scientific expedition, left Fort Rice, Dakota Territory on an expedition to the Yellowstone River in Montana. Under the overall command of Col. David Stanley, the expedition would continue until late September. During this period of time Larned would write numerous letters to his mother keeping her informed of his trials and tribulations throughout the long and dangerous movement.

Born March 9, 1850 in New York City, the young lieutenant was a son of William Larned, who had served in the Civil War as an army paymaster, and Mary Sherwood Hobbs Larned. Charles William Larned graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1870 and was posted to the 7th U.S. Cavalry in October. By 1873 Larned was a veteran of tough frontier service on the plains of Kansas and of reconstruction duty in the South.

Contrary to Larned's belief that the Indians would not dare show themselves and attack the powerful column, the red warriors did just that, striking elements of Custer's regiment on August 4 and again on August 11. Larned participated in the August 11 encounter on the Bighorn River and wrote of it in detail, beginning with his arrival at the river on August 10.

"At early dawn on the l0th our efforts to cross commenced, and it was not until 4 in the afternoon that they were reluctantly relinquished, after every expedient had been resorted to in vain."

Camping along the river for the night, Larned and his fellow troopers would be in for a rude awakening the next morning.

"Just at daylight our slumbers were broken by a sharp volley of musketry from the opposite bank, accompanied by shouts and yells that brought us to our feet in an instant. As far up the river as we could see, clouds of dust announced the approach of our slippery foes, while the rattling volleys from the opposite woods, and the `zip, zip' of the balls about our ears told us that there were a few evil disposed persons close by."

For some time Larned and the cavalrymen lay low near the river, then fell back and took up a more defensible position near a line of bluffs. A detachment of sharpshooters were sent out to reply to the Indians fire; they were forced to fall back when the Sioux warriors began to cross the river. Here Larned continues his story.

"Just at this moment General Custer rode up to the line, followed by a bright guidon, and made rapid disposition for the defense. Glad we were that the moment for action had arrived, and that we were to stand no longer quietly and grimly in line of battle to be shot at. One platoon of the first squadron on the left was move rapidly up the bluffs, and thrown out in skirmish line on the summit, to hold the extreme left. The remainder of the squadron followed as quickly as it could be deployed, together with one troop of the Fourth Squadron."

Describing the climax of the battle Larned writes, "On they came as before, 500 or 600 in number, screaming and yelling as usual, right into the line before they saw it. At the same moment the regimental band, which had been stationed in a ravine just in rear, struck up `Garry Owen.' The men set up a responsive shout, and a rattling volley swept the whole line. The fight was short and sharp just here, the Indians rolling back after the first fire and shooting from a safer distance. In twenty minutes the squadrons were mounted and ordered to charge. Our evil-disposed friends tarried no longer, but fled incontinently before the pursuing squadrons. We chased them eight miles and over the river, only returning when the last Indian had gotten beyond our reach."

In this fight, the sharpest during the Yellowstone expedition, one trooper was killed, three wounded and an estimated forty Indians were killed or wounded.

Completing its mission, the expedition returned to Fort Abraham Lincoln in late September, and shortly thereafter Lt. Charles Larned was detached to Washington, D.C. to serve as aide-do-camp to President Ulysses Grant. In August 1874 he was assigned to duty at West Point as Assistant Professor of Drawing and was still on duty there when his regiment was nearly wiped out at the Little Bighorn. Promoted 1st Lt., 7th Cavalry, to date June 25, 1876, Larned was named Professor of Drawing at West Point one month later, replacing the retiring Robert W. Weir. He would remain in this position for the remainder of his career.

Married in 1884 to Louise Hoffman, Larned fathered four children, and died on active duty with the rank of colonel on June 19, 1911. Charles Larned, who as a young officer gave us a vivid glimpse of the Yellowstone Expedition of 1873 and of service with Custer's 7th Cavalry, was laid to rest in the West Point Cemetery. Card is trimmed at top o/w VG. $500

PPCDV44. Kunst-Verlag der Photographischen Gesellschaft, Berlin. Leonhardt, Count von Blumenthal. Prussian general; Chief of staff army of the Crown Prince in Franco-Prussian War. VG. $25

PPCDV58. No ID. On back: "Benjamin Franklin, The Unfortunate Soldier, who lost all his limbs by freezing, while crossing the plains from Fort Wadsworth, Dacotah Territory, to Fort Ridgely, Minn. While he was making the journey, in company with four others, they were caught in one of those dreadful storms which frequently occur on the plains, and all of his comrades perished. He was out eight days and seven nights without food or fire, and when found by two Indians was nearly starved to death. He is now trying to sell his Photographs for the benefit of his family which consists of a wife and three children. Price 25 Cents." VG. $325

PPCDV65. Photographic negative from Brady's National Portrait Gallery, published by E. Anthony, NY. Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858). Compelled the opening of Japan to the West. VG. $250

PPCDV66. E. Anthony, NY. General Edmund Pendleton Gaines (1777-1849). Participated in the War of 1812, the Mexican War; "Gainesville" Florida and other "Gainesvilles" named after him. VG. $150

Mil3. J.A. Rich, Chicago, Ill. Cabinet Card of Civil War Veteran. G. $35

Mil4. Gmo. L. Zuber, Mazatlan. On the back of the Cabinet Card is written "Ramirez." Soldiers with their executed captive. G. $350

[Buy] [Categories] [Home][Stereos][Books, etc.] [Boudoirs] [Tintypes] [Daguerreotypes] [Ambrotypes] [Cases]

This page was last revised on 07/30/10.