Wonderful Carte de Visite photograph of John Wyer Summerhayes of Nantucket, Massachusetts, featuring a possible signature.  He was 25 when he enlisted on September 9^th, 1861.  From there he participated in all major actions of the war’s eastern theater.  Though the exact locations aren’t specified, he was twice wounded in action, once on June 15^th, 1862, and again on May 15^th, 1864.

His potential was recognized and he was promoted almost immediately to Sergeant of Company I, then Sgt. Major on January 1st, 1863; 2^nd Lieutenant on March 14^th, 1863; 1^st Lt. on April 12^th, 1863; and Captain on May 1, 1863. The consummate officer, he was breveted as a Company F’s Major on April 9^th, 1865 – the day of Lee’s surrender at Appomattox to General U.S. Grant and the Army of the Potomac.

After being discharged on June 6^th, 1865, he decided to make a career of the army, and re-enlisted on January 1^st, 1867.  On March 2^nd, 1867, he was twice promoted to 1^st Lieutenant and then Captain.  He retired on April 23^rd, 1904, as a Lt. Colonel.

He passed away in Nantucket where he lived with his wife, Martha Dunham, on March 8^th, 1911.  He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery at gravesite 1-153-C.

The photograph features a stark contrast compared to many CDV’s, and a very early war Sergeant Summerhayes in his dress frock with polished epaulets and forage cap with brass insignia.  The back is unmarked.

The 20^th Massachusetts is known among Civil War enthusiasts as the Harvard Regiment, due to an element of officers and men who had attended or had been attending Harvard before enlisting.  The famed regiment’s members included relatives of American Revolutionary War heroes like Patrick Henry, and future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.

A cursive “John Summerhayes” is noted at the bottom of the card.

A truly unique career and a well-known regiment make this an essential CDV for the Civil War collector.  [cm][ph:L]

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