Mathew Brady photo

[Jancarik]

Many of you may have seen this photo attributed to Mathew Brady before. I saw the full image with the writing at the top and it is actually flipped most places it is shown on the internet. Above I have shown the actual correct image as photographed by Brady. I read that the photo was taken at a Union camp near Falmouth, Virginia in spring 1863. This was at the time of the Fredericksburg campaign. My great-great-great grandfather was William Ackermann and he was a captain in the 62nd NY Anderson Zouaves. I believe the injured Zouave in the photo is my great-great-great grandfather Ackermann. He was shot through his left hand at the Battle of Salem Church/Marye's Heights (only a few miles from Falmouth, VA) during the May 3-4 battle. He was a member of the Anderson Zouaves out of New York and he also had a small mark on his left cheek from being shot in the cheek by a bullet in 1862 at Malvern Hill. A mark can be seen on the left cheek of the soldier in the Brady photo that would be consistent with such an injury a year after being shot. And I have many records proving Ackermann was shot in the left hand at the Battle of Salem Church during the Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville campaign. As you can see, when the image is not reversed, the injury to the Zouave is clearly a left hand injury, consistent with him being shot in that hand the first week of May 1863 near Falmouth, Virginia. Welcome your thoughts on the photo and what I have uncovered about the photo being reversed. As you can see when it is corrected, it has handwriting in upper corner that reads "Wounded Zouave". I own the presentation sword given to Captain Ackermann in Fall 1863 by his regiment as appreciation for his leadership and his valor in combat, as he was wounded twice fighting against the confederates (including the hand wound in May 1863). Happy to share additional documents or information as requested to substantiate what I believe to have uncovered.

 

[RedRover]

Many of you may have seen this photo attributed to Mathew Brady before. I saw the full image with the writing at the top and it is actually flipped most places it is shown on the internet. Above I have shown the actual correct image as photographed by Brady. I read that the photo was taken at a Union camp near Falmouth, Virginia in spring 1863. This was at the time of the Fredericksburg campaign. My great-great-great grandfather was William Ackermann and he was a captain in the 62nd NY Anderson Zouaves. I believe the injured Zouave in the photo is my great-great-great grandfather Ackermann. He was shot through his left hand at the Battle of Salem Church/Marye's Heights (only a few miles from Falmouth, VA) during the May 3-4 battle. He was a member of the Anderson Zouaves out of New York and he also had a small mark on his left cheek from being shot in the cheek by a bullet in 1862 at Malvern Hill. A mark can be seen on the left cheek of the soldier in the Brady photo that would be consistent with such an injury a year after being shot. And I have many records proving Ackermann was shot in the left hand at the Battle of Salem Church during the Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville campaign. As you can see, when the image is not reversed, the injury to the Zouave is clearly a left hand injury, consistent with him being shot in that hand the first week of May 1863 near Falmouth, Virginia. Welcome your thoughts on the photo and what I have uncovered about the photo being reversed. As you can see when it is corrected, it has handwriting in upper corner that reads "Wounded Zouave". I own the presentation sword given to Captain Ackermann in Fall 1863 by his regiment as appreciation for his leadership and his valor in combat, as he was wounded twice fighting against the confederates (including the hand wound in May 1863). Happy to share additional documents or information as requested to substantiate what I believe to have uncovered.

Hello.
The zouave in the image is wearing an enlisted man's uniform. The officers of the 62nd New York Volunteers apparently wore a uniform more akin the Army regulations for infantry officers. Like demonstrated by Col. Riker, below left, or Col. Nevin, at right.

This was also the case with the junior officers. The regulation frock coats of infantry captains would be single-breasted. Below at left purported to be of Company D's Captain George T.J. Lewis, who died in 1862, in the regulation officer's dress; and below right 2nd Lieutenant John Cuming of Company D.

It was common for the officers of the volunteer regiments with zouave uniforms to wear the regulation Army uniform, like shown here among the 114th Pennsylvania...

And if the zouave in the photograph is indeed of the 62nd Regiment, he would likely be of it's Company I, which according to some uniform books (Daniel J. Miller's "American Zouaves" from 2020) was the only company of the 62nd regiment that employed the big baggy zouave pantaloons, like the fellow is wearing...

The balance of the 62nd New York Zouaves apparently employed more conventional trousers, including your grandfather's Company A, as shown by this private of the company...

[Sergeant Isaac Cooper of Co. A, 62nd New York Infantry Regiment and Veteran Reserve Corp in zouave uniform]

1 photograph : albumen print on card mount ; mount 102 x 62 mm (carte de visite format) | Photograph shows identified soldier.

www.loc.gov

Your ancestor Captain Ackerman's sword is still extant. It was sold some time ago. Images still up here.

PRESENTATION SWORD: TWICE WOUNDED IN ACTION, HIS GALLANTRY ON THE BATTLEFIELD SPARED HIM A COURTMARTIAL – CAPT. WM. ACKERMANN, 62ND NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS (ANDERSON ZOUAVES) — Horse Soldier

 

[Jancarik]

Yes, I bought the sword to bring it back into the family. Have no idea when it left the family or under what circumstances. My great-great-great grandfather's sword now sits above our living room mantle.

 

[JOHN42768]

Yes, I bought the sword to bring it back into the family. Have no idea when it left the family or under what circumstances. My great-great-great grandfather's sword now sits above our living room mantle.

Welcome, enjoy

 

[Nathan Stuart]

This sitting zouave being offered a canteen of water looks to be in a bad way. His heavily laden eyelids suggest he's exhausted as well as visibly wounded.

Is the weapon laying beside him a scoped target rifle?

 

[RedRover]

Is the weapon laying beside him a scoped target rifle?

Here's a detail of the zouave's gun... its a rifle, finished bright... The sights are visible on top of the shiny barrel...

 

[MilesHai]

Many of you may have seen this photo attributed to Mathew Brady before. I saw the full image with the writing at the top and it is actually flipped most places it is shown on the internet. Above I have shown the actual correct image as photographed by Brady. I read that the photo was taken at a Union camp near Falmouth, Virginia in spring 1863. This was at the time of the Fredericksburg campaign. My great-great-great grandfather was William Ackermann and he was a captain in the 62nd NY Anderson Zouaves. I believe the injured Zouave in the photo is my great-great-great grandfather Ackermann. He was shot through his left hand at the Battle of Salem Church/Marye's Heights (only a few miles from Falmouth, VA) during the May 3-4 battle. He was a member of the Anderson Zouaves out of New York and he also had a small mark on his left cheek from being shot in the cheek by a bullet in 1862 at Malvern Hill. A mark can be seen on the left cheek of the soldier in the Brady photo that would be consistent with such an injury a year after being shot. And I have many records proving Ackermann was shot in the left hand at the Battle of Salem Church during the Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville campaign. As you can see, when the image is not reversed, the injury to the Zouave is clearly a left hand injury, consistent with him being shot in that hand the first week of May 1863 near Falmouth, Virginia. Welcome your thoughts on the photo and what I have uncovered about the photo being reversed. As you can see when it is corrected, it has handwriting in upper corner that reads "Wounded Zouave". I own the presentation sword given to Captain Ackermann in Fall 1863 by his regiment as appreciation for his leadership and his valor in combat, as he was wounded twice fighting against the confederates (including the hand wound in May 1863). Happy to share additional documents or information as requested to substantiate what I believe to have uncovered.



View attachment 549197

View attachment 549199

The photo is actually from one of seven 6.5 in. x 8.5 in. negatives shot by Egbert Guy Fox, working for Brady, on May 3, 1863.

Rich Hochadel
seeingthecivilwar.com