[CIVIL WAR] ID'd 19th US Colored Troop Soldier

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Day 1: Historic & Early Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Apr 24, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-04-24 09:00:00 2026-04-24 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 1: Historic & Early Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-1-historic-early-americana-20869
Day one of Fleischer's 2026 Spring premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  Half-length studio portrait albumen CDV. San Antonio, Texas: Doerr & Jacobson, n.d. Photographer's imprint to mount verso. Framed to 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. Modern pen inscription to frame verso "Zachariah Butcher / 19th Reg USCT." Sitter wears what appears to be a neatly tailored post-war 5-button sack coat with corporal chevrons, and standard sky blue infantry trousers possibly with a single dark blue NCO stripe, with military-style civilian vest and civilian shirt. Ca late 1865-1875.

   

  U.S., Colored Troops Military Service Records indicate that Zachariah Butcher was a 28-year-old tanner when he enlisted on 12/25/1863 as a private and mustered into Co. C, 19th Infantry United States Colored Troops. The 19th USCT was organized at Camp Stanton, MD and was composed primarily of African American men from southern Maryland and the state's Eastern shore who fought in the Eastern Theater. The regiment participated in major engagements including the Battle of Wilderness and First Assault on Petersburg, operations in the Shenandoah Valley, and in the Appomattox Campaign. At a time when there was heavy prejudice and skepticism about the fighting capabilities of USCT, the 19th was heralded for discipline and gallantry in battle. After the war, the 19th had duty at Petersburg and City Point until relocating to Texas in June 1865. There the regiment served duty at Brownsville and on the Rio Grande River until the regiment mustered out in January 1867.

   

  Butcher's USCT service records indicate that he was born in Fredericksburg, Maryland, and stood 5'6" tall. He was wounded at Cemetery Hill in 1864. Butcher did transfer from Virginia to Texas with his regiment, but HDS lists Butcher as deserted on 2/23/1866. His service records further reveal that he "left on furlough Nov 25/65 for 60 days" and deserted while on furlough. His records also reveal that his wife joined him at Fort Monroe when he was en route to Texas, and served as a laundress in the same company while both were in Texas. On November 16, 1865, Butcher requested a 60-day furlough to Maryland to transport his wife home, due to her poor health and a desire to see the children they left behind. His request is signed with his mark "x." Notably, Butcher never achieved the rank of corporal which is indicated by the chevrons on the sitter in this portrait, suggesting that the identification may be inaccurate, and warrants further research. 

   

  [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards] [USCT, United States  Colored Troops, Glory, 54th Massachusetts, Buffalo Soldiers, Black Soldiers] 

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