Signed CDV of 76th Illinois Infantry William Robbins with Vicksburg Backmark

Signed CDV of William Robbins, 76th Illinois Infantry – Vicksburg Backmark
William Robbins, a resident of Milford, Illinois, enlisted as a Private on August 9, 1862, and mustered into Company E, 76th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on August 22, 1862. He served faithfully for nearly three years and was mustered out with the regiment on July 22, 1865, at Galveston, Texas.
 
This carte-de-visite (CDV) portrait of Private Robbins features a clear, period ink signature on the reverse, personally identifying the soldier. The image was produced by a Vicksburg, Mississippi photographer, as indicated by the backmark — a highly desirable association given the 76th Illinois Infantry’s prominent role in the Vicksburg Campaign of 1863.
 
The 76th Illinois Infantry, part of the Army of the Tennessee, participated in numerous key operations in the Western Theater, including the Siege of Vicksburg, the Jackson Campaign, the Meridian Expedition, and later service in the Department of the Gulf, culminating in operations around Mobile, Alabama, and occupation duty in Texas.
 
This signed CDV provides a well-documented and personal link to an Illinois soldier who served throughout the war in one of the state’s hard-fighting Western regiments. The combination of a clear signature, Vicksburg backmark, and solid regimental history makes this an appealing addition to any collection of Illinois Civil War photography or Western Theater soldier portraits.