Item No. 0622918

Forty-one Union soldiers pose outside a small building in this framed albumen image. The captions read, “Ansel L. Snow Qr. Ward Master General” and “Convalescent Camp Hospital Head Quarters, Va.” The location is Alexandria, Virginia, as determined by the listing of an identical print found in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. None of the men are identified, and it is unclear if Ansel L. Snow is among them. HDS has records for two men by that name—one of the 97th New York who was discharged for disability in September 1863, and a second from the 36th Massachusetts who mustered out with his regiment in June 1865. The men pictured all appear to be enlisted privates, the highest ranking among them being the man standing at the center wearing corporal’s stripes. One of the seated men wears a thick cardigan-style sweater while another has legs crossed revealing a slipper. Nearly all the other men wear their uniform coats and shoes or boots, where they are visible. A young boy poses with the men—he can be seen behind the man seated front and center with the striped pants. Given the caption, the building in the background may have been the quartermaster’s office.

The visible portion of the albumen measures about 7 5/8” x 5 1/2”. The overall dimensions of the framed piece are about 10 5/8” x 8 5/8”. It has a wire on the reverse for hanging. Very good condition. Some moisture damage is visible at the lower-right of the print. The image was not examined out of the frame.