1861 Civil War CDV of Colonel Ambrose E. Burnside, 1st Rhode Island

  

Pictured in this early-war CDV is Colonel Ambrose E. Burnside, commander of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia. He wears heavy gauntlets on his hands, one of which holds a plumed hat. The other hand clutches the guard of his staff and field officer's sword. The colonel's sword belt is secured by a pattern 1851 eagle/wreath plate.

On the reverse is the early imprint of E. Anthony of New York, with credit to Mathew Brady's negative.

Burnside would rise through the ranks quickly, becoming a major general by March 1862. By November of that year he was commander of the Army of the Potomac, and met with disaster a month later at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Really nice condition on this carte. Measures about 2 1/2" x 4".