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RARE ¼ PLATE VMI CADET DAGUERROTYPE PHOTO – COL. SIMEON GIBBONS, 10th VIRGINIA, KIA AT MCDOWELL

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Simeon Beauford Gibbons was born near what is now Shenandoah, Virginia (Page County) on May 25, 1833, a son of Samuel and Christina Miller Gibbons (a descendant of Valley pioneer Adam Miller). Though he spent the first eleven years of his life in and around the iron-ore industry-based village in which he was born, after his father sold his interest in the business, “Sim” and his family moved to the village of Mundellsville (known mostly, today, for the site of “Willow Grove Mill”), near Luray.

He left Mundellsville to for the Virginia Military Institute in 1848, attending with other Page Countians, Hiram Jackson Strickler and William Overall Yager. Gibbons graduated (civil engineering) in 1852 (ranked 7th out of 24), and returned to Page County, where he taught school near “Hudson’s” just across from “Willow Grove”.

About 1854, Gibbons moved to Harrisonburg, where he joined with Samuel Shacklett in the mercantile business. In 1855, Simeon married Shacklett’s only surviving daughter, Fannie, who died less than a year later.

During the years leading-up to the Civil War, Gibbons also joined the Rockingham Union Lodge #27, A.F. & A.M, and served on the Board of Visitors for VMI (1859-1860).

Gibbons was an active participant in the prewar militia in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, and served initially as captain of the Harrison Valley Guards, which was organized in July 1859. Gibbons was present with his company at the hanging of John Brown, in Charles Town, Virginia (West Virginia), on December 2, 1859.  It was in Harpers Ferry during the Spring of 1861 that Colonel Gibbons would assemble the 10^th Virginia with men from Rockbridge, Shenandoah, Page and Madison Counties -using a nucleus of four companies of the 4th Regiment Virginia Volunteer militia.  By July 1^st, the 10^th was transferred to Confederate service and was assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah under the brigade command of Edmund Kirby Smith.

Less than 10 months later, “Sim”, while leading his regiment against the 5^th Ohio atop Sitlington’s Hill near McDowell, Virginia, was struck by two bullets to the forehead. The wounds were clearly mortal, but members of his regiment rushed the colonel to the rear. Serving as Simeon’s orderly at the time, William Gibbons arrived by his brother’s side, just after Sim had died.  Simeon was buried in the Shacklett family plot in Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Virginia. His grave is next to that of his wife, Fannie.

This singular, original daguerreotype image of “Sim” is in a very nice condition and shows him proudly wearing his VMI uniform. The photo shines with an understated metallic finish from the silver plate and is finely mounted in an ornate case with gilt frame and matting.  “Sim” leans or sits high in a chair with both arms crossed and resting above his waist. The details of his uniform are quite clear including buttons, trim, and chevrons.

The case is wood with an embossed leather cover and gold edges.  Some of the black finish has given to a brown on the front from age and light abrasion, which gives its appearance a period quality.  The rear cover shows very little wear.  The case halves are joined by a trimmed piece of supple brown leather which forms a hinge, and brass hook and loop clasps close the case securely (one is complete, the other is missing the hook portion). The interior of the case’s first half has a padded insert covered in red to burgundy velvet with an embossed eagle, floral motif and, “J. H. WHITEHURST GALLERIES/NEW-YORK/WASHINGTON D.C./BALTIMORE/RICHMOND/NORFOLK/PETERSBURG/& LYNCHBURG”.  The photo is bordered by a stamped brass protector/frame with a gilt finish of deep gold.  A geometric pattern traces the edge of the oval and draws attention toward the featured portrait.  A piece of glass is held in place by a pliable brass lip with a decorative pattern.  The photo, frame, glass cover, and border are housed in the second half of the case, which is lined with a red to pink velvet.  The case measures 3.75” x 4.75”.

A very rare piece with ties to the Virginia Military Institute, the 10^th Virginia, and one of Stonewall Jackson’s victories during the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. An ideal photograph for the collector of unique Civil War images.  [cm] [ph:L]

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