Corporal Edwin S. Osgood Chicago Mercantile Battery

Private Edwin S. Osgood was a member of the Chicago Mercantile Battery and was a resident of the city. The back mark is "The New Orleans Photographic Co. 57 Camp ST." in Louisiana where the unit saw duty in 1864 and 1865. Private Osgood mustered in on Aug. 29, 1862 and mustered out on Jul. 10, 1865 as a Corporal. He participated in the Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. campaigns among others. What made the cdv type photo so important is the soldier could sign his name on the paper format unlike the tintype and other so-called "hard images." Therefore, it has been possible to identify Osgood to his unit with fair certainty. His middle initial, "S," and the location of the back mark (New Orleans where he was in '64/'65) are aids in this endeavor along with age, rank, and uniform. A cancelled 2c stamp affixed on the back of the cdv also is dated to the period Osgood was around the city, which also helps the identification. Submitted by Rick Williams

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