This oval albumen is in its original wood frame and bears a mat with Harrisburg, Pa., photographer’s mark at left. Seven soldiers pose in the studio against a plain backdrop, four seated with hats on their laps, and three standing behind resting hands on the shoulders of their seated comrades. All look freshly in from the field. Six wear enlisted frockcoats, but two have them casually buttoned, one of whom is missing at least one button. The seventh wears an open fatigue blouse and has a non-regulation narrow-brimmed hat. The other three in the front row show regulation issue forage caps. Boots are evident in the front row, worn over army-issue trousers, a practical solution to camping, campaigning, and fighting in Virginia mud.

Of particular interest is the forage cap held by the soldier at far left. The front shows small numerals, perhaps applied to his chinstrap, reading “132” and the top shows a first-issue Second Army Corps badge, identifying the sitters as members of the 132^nd Pennsylvania, and not only dating it after March 21, 1863, when the badge was adopted, but certainly between May 16/17 and May 24, 1864, while the regiment awaited discharge in Harrisburg, having left their camp on May 15 to head home for muster out.

The 132^nd PA was a nine-month regiment that saw heavy action in three major engagements as part of the Second Corps: Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. The regiment recruited in north-central Pennsylvania in late summer 1862 and mustered in at Harrisburg from August 11 to 18, 1862, and left for Washington on Aug. 19. After barely two weeks of drill and preparation they joined Kimball’s brigade of French’s Division, Sumner’s Corps at Rockville, Md., on September 2. Just two weeks after that they were engaged in the center of the Antietam Battlefield in the effort to dislodge Confederates from their positions along the Sunken Road, which earned the nickname of “Bloody Lane.” The regiment was engaged against the northern face of what were effectively entrenchments and lost 30 killed, 114 wounded and 8 missing before combined attacks took the position.

After Antietam the outfit took part in the reconnaissance to Leesburg and Charlestown, moved to Falmouth in November and in December crossed the river into Fredericksburg and took part in the bloody attacks on Marye’s Heights, assaulting the famous stone wall and losing 150 out of 340 men on the field. Falling back across the river with the rest of the army, it remained in winter quarters until April and then took part in Hooker’s move upriver in the effort to get around Lee’s left, which stalled at Chancellorsville. In the fighting there on May 3 and 4, they lost almost another 50 men: 2 enlistedmen killed and 1 officer mortally wounded, with another officer and 39 men wounded, and one man captured. They returned to their former camp in pouring rain. Just ten days later, on May 14 they were ordered home for muster out, their nine-month term of service from the date of officially mustering in having expired. They set out for Washington May 15 and from there to Harrisburg on May 16.

The photo shows just minor chips to the albumen at the edges and a couple of small spots, none of which affect the figures. This is a great view of seven comrades who were about to part company for a return to civilian life, but wanted to memorialize their service together and all the shared experiences that implies.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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