The 8th Illinois Cavalry is well known for being credited with firing the first shot at the battle of Gettysburg. Here we offer an image of a veteran of the regiment.

This image shows Chauncey Mead of Company K in civilian clothes not long after the war. Mr. Mead is seated facing the camera wearing a dark suit with a light checkered vest and dark bow-tie with polka dots.

The image is clear with good contrast but there are a few light spots on his left side that look to be blemishes on the negative. There is also some light surface dirt on the image and mount. The bottom of the mount has a pencil inscription that reads “C. M. MEAD.”

The reverse has a period pencil inscription at top that reads “C. M. MEAD.” There is also a photographer’s imprint for AMES GALLERY, QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

Chauncey Mead was born November 12, 1839. At the time of his enlistment Mead was living in Somonauk, Illinois with his wife Lurana whom he married in 1860. Mead signed the rolls of the 8th Illinois on September 7, 1861. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and saw action on the Peninsula, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Culpepper, Monocacy and Fort Stevens. Mead was mustered out on September 28, 1864 on the expiration of his term of service.

After his discharge Chauncey Mead returned to his wife and family. The couple eventually had six children. At some point after the war the family moved to Hallsboro, Virginia. Chauncey died there on May 31, 1922 and is buried in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Midlothian, Virginia.

While researching Mr. Meads history an interesting little article was found on the Internet. Apparently in 1935 a woman named H. M. Martin who lived in Virginia was researching Confederates buried in her local cemetery. Among the Confederates she found three Union soldiers one of whom was Chauncey Mead. Mrs. Martin sent a letter to the Women’s Relief Corps of the G.A.R. in Illinois and asked them to provide a veterans marker for Mr. Meads grave. Mrs. Martin’s effort was seen as a nice gesture on the part of a former enemy and her letter made the newspapers in Illinois. A copy of the internet article comes with the image.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.