UNMOUNTED OVAL SALT PRINT: LAWYER, FOREIGN MINISTER, US AND CS CONGRESSMAN, CONFEDERATE GENERAL AND NEW YORK SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ROGER A. PRYOR

$250.00

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Item Code: 1266-238

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A nice, clear 5-1/4” by 7-1/2” oval salt print photo hinged at the top rear to a white cardstock backing 8-1/2” by 10-3/4.” Pryor is shown in formal civilian attire, long hair combed to the back, likely taken about 1859 when he was serving a term in the U.S. Congress. Very slight spotting not affecting the figure, which has nice clarity and tones much closer to an albumen than salt print.

We have not read the 1976 biography of Pryor, but the title “Adapt or Perish” seems to sum up his career pretty well: he went from fire-breathing secessionist to law partner of Ben Butler, hardly a darling of southern society. Born in Petersburg, VA, in 1828, he was admitted to the VA bar in 1848, but turned to journalism for health reasons and then receiving an appointment from Franklin Pierce as special US Minister to Greece from 1854-57. An outspoken supporter of “southern rights” he was elected to Congress to fill a vacant seat in late 1859, took part in numerous quarrels with anti-slavery and abolitionist politicians, but shunned a challenge to a duel with Bowie knives when push came to shove. Reelected to his seat, he abandoned it in 1861 to pursue his secessionist goals, even appearing in Charleston in time for the bombardment of Sumter, reportedly having urged it begin earlier in hopes of prodding Virginia to act and having been offered the chance to fire the first shot. Appointed also to the Confederate Congress, he gave that up to become Colonel of the 3rd Virginia in April 1861, he was promoted Brigadier General in April/May 1862 and on the Peninsula fought at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, and through the Seven Days, including Gaines Mill and Glendale, and later at Second Manassas and Antietam, where he was engaged near the Piper Farm, briefly taking division command when R.H. Anderson was wounded, he apparently fumbled the job and the allowed the division to be flanked. In late 1862 his brigade was broken up, leaving him without a command and he resigned in protest, preferring to serve in the cavalry as an enlistedman and was captured in November 1864 purportedly while acting as a scout or courier. Imprisoned at Fort Lafayette, he was exchanged in March 1865. At the end of the war he became a Confederate carpetbagger (here’s where the “adapt” part comes in,) moving to New York and reportedly partnering with Ben Butler, becoming active in Democratic politics, eventually becoming a prominent jurist and judge, even attaining a seat on the NY Supreme Court from 1894 to 1899, and continuing with other legal appointments until his death in 1919. All in all, a rather remarkable figure.  [sr][ph:L]

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