[CIVIL WAR] IDed WIA Bugler of the 2nd New York Mounted Rifles

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Rick Carlile Collection of Civil War Photogra...

By Fleischer's Auctions

Jun 20, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-06-20 09:00:00 2026-06-20 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Rick Carlile Collection of Civil War Photography https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/rick-carlile-collection-of-civil-war-photography-22699
This sale features an extensive catalog of Civil War photographs that were acquired, curated, and researched by seminal collector, Rick Carlile. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  Studio portrait albumen CDV. Washington, D.C.: G. W. Casilear, [ca. 1863-4]. Period ink signature to mount verso reads: "Edward Launt / Co "C" 2nd N.Y.Mt.R."

   

  The 2nd New York Mounted Rifles (also known as the Governor's Guard) had a diverse service record, often serving as dismounted cavalry or "mounted infantry" during the grueling final campaigns in Virginia. It was one of several cavalry units to catch Rick Carlile's eye while he was building his legendary collection. This is likely because it experienced a profound transformation of its service in 1864, when horse shortages forced the men to dismount and operate as "shock troops" in some of the hardest fighting of Grant's overland campaign. That is not what the men signed up for when they enlisted in Buffalo and surrounding areas. 

   

  This exceptional lot features a CDV portrait of Bugler Edward Launt, a young musician as he appeared in the field. Launt is posed with the tools of both his musical and martial trades, holding a brass cavalry bugle in his right hand while his left hand rests on the hilt of a light cavalry saber, the drag of which rests on the ground due to his charmingly short stature. He wears a standard four-button fatigue blouse and a forage cap, standing in front of the signature Casilear scenic camp backdrop featuring stylized Sibley tents and a Union flag.

   

  A compelling feature of this image is the use of the painted studio backdrop, which indicates that Launt visited the gallery of G.W. Casilear in Washington, D.C. Casilear, a master engraver, was known for the technical clarity of his work, which is evident here in the sharp detail of the bugle’s cords and the soldier's youthful features. The backdrop provided a "military" setting for families back in New York, even while the soldier was stationed in the defenses of the capital.

   

  Launt's service record adds significant historical weight to the image; an 18-year-old recruit from Hancock, New York, he served as a combat bugler and was wounded in action on 18 June 1864, during the initial Union assaults on Petersburg. He survived his wounds and the war, later becoming an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

   

  This is a top shelf image of a young Civil War recruit who interrupted his childhood to save the Union. 

   

  [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]

  Condition

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  The image is in generally excellent condition, featuring strong tonal contrast and a clear, sharp subject. The mount exhibits typical period-clipped corners, designed for easy insertion into 19th-century albums. The albumen surface is well-preserved with minimal age-related toning, and the bold ink signature on the verso remains entirely legible. 

• Provenance

  Rick Carlile collection. 

• Shipping Info

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