Discipulus
Sergeant
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2015
- Location
- DuPage Cnty, IL
"D.S. Leach Corpral
W. Bishop Boath Members
of Co C 33rd Regt Ills Vet Vol
Jan the 2nd
1865"
I posted this pic yesterday on another thread here and decided to do some quick research. It was fun! A few rabbit holes, contradictory sources that needed sorting, mostly in trying to prove the date of 1865. You will see why.
Corporal David S. Leach is on the right, from McLean County, IL. He served the entire length of the war in this company. He mustered out a Sergeant.
William Bishop is on the left, from Heyworth, IL (also McLean County). And this is where all the rabbit holes began. He was shot through the face at the Siege of Jackson (July, 1863). Believing his wound was fatal he was immediately discharged.
The presence of Bishop in the photo, and Leach as only a Corporal, made me think the picture was 1863 or earlier? However the revenue stamp was required 1864-1866, and the veteran's stripes would not have been acquired before 1864. So it turns out Bishop survived his wounding and re-enlisted as a Veteran in January of 1864. (After the war he would be elected Mayor of Bloomington, IL, one of the larger and more important cities in the state.) And Leach received his promotion to sergeant late in 1865. So the date of January 1865 on the photo actually makes sense!
We must presume that Bishop is showing a profile to hide the wound to the left side of his face. Also note on the ground by their feet, you can see the legs for the prop stands they are leaning against to hold them perfectly still for the photograph.
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