Signed Union Cavalry Soldier Sgt. John W. Marshall – Illinois 4th & 12th Cavalry

Signed Union Cavalry Soldier Sgt. John W. Marshall – Illinois 4th & 12th Cavalry
 
Original Civil War carte de visite (CDV) photograph featuring a very sharp seated view of Union soldier John W. Marshall, shown wearing sergeant’s stripes with excellent clarity and contrast that highlights uniform details and insignia. The verso is signed by Marshall and includes a period 3-cent tax stamp, enhancing both authenticity and collector appeal. Marshall was a resident of Port Byron, Illinois, a 20-year-old farmer at the time of his enlistment. He enlisted on September 5, 1861, at Port Byron as a Private and mustered into Company M of the 4th Illinois Cavalry on September 26, 1861. He re-enlisted on February 17, 1864, and transferred out on June 23, 1864. On June 23, 1865, he transferred into Company I of the 12th Illinois Cavalry and was mustered out on April 10, 1866, at Springfield, Illinois. During his service, he was promoted to Corporal and later appears in this image wearing sergeant’s stripes, and he also made an intra-regimental transfer on June 14, 1865, from Company M to Company B. At enlistment, he was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall with a fair complexion, gray eyes, and auburn hair. The photograph remains in very good condition with minor wear consistent with age, making it a desirable, fully identified Civil War cavalry CDV with signature and tax stamp—an excellent addition to any serious collection.