Identifying a Photo

CraftyMauiMamma

Private
Joined
May 12, 2015
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Hello all! I was visiting a friend of mine the other day-he's 94 and lives here in Maui. I noticed he had posted up a map of Gettysburg and had an old photo clipped to it. When I asked him about it, he said it was his maternal great grandfather, Brig. General John Benjamin Sanborn. He had a little general information on him, but not much. Would you be so kind to look at the photo and comment as to whether or not this could be Brig. General Sanborn? I looked at other photos of him, and I can't really tell (darned facial hair). But maybe the uniform would tell us something? Thank You!
 
Image 2017-09-01 13.28.30.jpg
 
Hello all! I was visiting a friend of mine the other day-he's 94 and lives here in Maui. I noticed he had posted up a map of Gettysburg and had an old photo clipped to it. When I asked him about it, he said it was his maternal great grandfather, Brig. General John Benjamin Sanborn. He had a little general information on him, but not much. Would you be so kind to look at the photo and comment as to whether or not this could be Brig. General Sanborn? I looked at other photos of him, and I can't really tell (darned facial hair). But maybe the uniform would tell us something? Thank You!


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Sanborn, John B., brigadier-general, was born at Epsom,
N. H., on Dec. 5, 1826. His early education was acquired at
the village school, and he fitted for college with a view to
devoting himself to the profession of law. He entered
Dartmouth, was graduated, and then pursued a law course, being
admitted to the bar in July, 1854. He at once removed to
Minnesota, settling in St. Paul in December of that year. He
founded a law practice, and interested himself in the politics
of his state, being elected in 1858 to the position of
adjutant-general of the state. At the outbreak of the Civil
war Gen. Sanborn was serving as quartermaster-general, and the
duty of raising and equipping the volunteer soldiers to fill
the quota for Minnesota fell upon him. Early in 1862 he
accepted a commission as colonel of the 4th Minn. volunteers,
and with the regiment went to the front. His first engagement
was at the battle of Iuka on Sept. 19, when he commanded the
1st brigade of Gen. Hamilton's left wing of the army under
Rosecrans. In the official report Gen. Sanborn was highly
commended, and he was promoted to be a brigadier-general of
volunteers, but the U. S. senate failed to confirm the
commission. He participated in the battles of Grant which led
to the fall of Vicksburg, and upon the surrender, July 4,
1863, he was selected to lead the advance guard into the city,
and afterward to superintend the paroling and disbanding of
the 31,600 Confederate soldiers captured. This honor was
conferred by reason of his gallant conduct during the
Vicksburg campaign, and especially for bravery and skill
displayed at the capture of Jackson, Miss., on May 14. In
November Gen. Sanborn assumed command of the district of
southwest Missouri, where he opposed Gen. Price, and either at
the head of a brigade or division of cavalry he fought in the
battles of Jefferson City, Boonville, Independence, Big Blue,
Osage, and Newtonia. After the Civil war ended he conducted a
campaign against the Indians, in the summer and fall of 1865,
and restored quiet on the border by treaties with hostile
tribes. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers on Feb.
1O, 1865, and was honorably mustered out of the service on
April 30, 1866.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8
 
Thank you for posting this image. Sadly I have to agree with Robert Gray.
 
Wow, could have just made by first photo ID using Betaface: https://betaface.com/demo.html

It says there is a 94% chance (higher for two notable Germans) it is the same as Lt. Hiram Towne. Although their hairlines do look different unfortunately.

He is standing at far right in this photo:

Francis_Preston_Blair%2C_Jr._and_staff_-_Brady-Handy.jpg


They look pretty similar, but I am not convinced it is the same person.
 
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