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August 1864. "Petersburg, Virginia. Company C, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry." Wet plate glass negative, photographer unknown. View full size.
There is an excellent, easy to read timeline of the regiment's history at this site.
http://www.civilwarintheeast.com/USA/MA/MA1cav.php
Depending on the date they were either scouting for the army, participating in a "demonstration" north of the James River or in what I take to be various encampments in Union held areas around Richmond.
Is a former corporal, you can see his removed stripes.
A detailed discussion of this image and possible identities of one of the men in it over on my CW blog, DeadConfederates.com.
Perhaps shot a few days after the most horrific battle of the war. The crater filled with bodies and blood so deep you had to swim in it.
Seated second from left, still glaring after being shot in the jaw.
What a cruel thing fate is. You have the excessively rare opportunity of gaining even the slightest modicum of immortality, and it's snatched away because somewhere a piece of glass gets broken.
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