American Historical Ephemera and Photography

CDV seated portrait identified as Captain Warren E. F. Brown, 7th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment (toning, minor spotting to print; mount with some surface loss and wear to edges/corners). Nashua, NH: S. C. Hamilton & Co., n.d. Brown wears shoulder straps, belt, and sash, and holds his Hardee hat and sword in either hand.

Captain Brown was killed leading Company K in their assault on the Confederate Fort Wagner. This was the same assault in which the famed all-Black volunteer regiment, the 54th Massachusetts, fought so heavily.

[With:] Letter written to a soldier's wife informing her that her husband, John S. Corliss, is missing as a result of the assault on Fort Wagner.

1 1/4 pages, 7 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. (old folds, toning). Morris Island, SC, 20 July 1863. Written and signed by Charles A. Dow ("C. A. Dow") as clerk for Captain Jerome House. With cover addressed to Mrs. John S. Corliss at Alexandria, NH, cancelled at Port Royal, SC 30 July 1863

In part: "The 7" Regt. have a severe battle on the evening of the 18" & sustained a heavy loss. Your husband John S. Corliss is missing, we were repulsed & have not been allowed to go after our wounded. Your husband very likely was wounded & taken prisoner, it is possible that he may be in some of our hospitals, everything here is at present indefinite & in a state of confusion. It is also possible that he is dead, but we hope to find him all right. Our Captain was wounded, both Lieutenants missing & from 20 to 30 men killed wounded & missing in Co. C. I will write again as soon as I can gain any information."

Private John S. Corliss was killed on 18 July 1863 at Fort Wagner, SC.