Antique 1861 CIVIL WAR Recruitment Poster - Clinton Rifles, NY, 57th Regiment

Description: This is an original Civil War recruitment poster, printed using three printing plates -- one for each of the three colors (red, black, gold) on plain paper. The gold plate is slightly off register and there is no reprint statement at the bottom edge. The purpose of this poster was to fill a regiment under the command of Colonel J. A. Page. Another antique print of it is in the collection of the New York Historical Society Museum & Library. Enticements listed include: "accepted directly by the United States, and for that reason better provided for... commanded by competent officers,...provided with good pay, good quarters, good rations and... the French Chasseur Uniform. "... will receive AT ONCE his UNIFORM COMPLETE and the Enfield Rifel with the SWORD BAYONET... "...The pay of a soldier enlisting for 3 years of the war, is $13 per month... a BOUNTY of One Hundred Dollars on discarge.... In case of death, this will be received by his widow or children." The Clinton Rifles was a Civil War regiment organized and mustered into service at New York City in 1861. It became part of the 57th Infantry Regiment. This poster was framed in the 1980s Lewiston, Maine. The frame is rustic and unusual, made to look like old, weathered wood. The grain is photographed in detail, to show the depth of the carved or pressed grain pattern. It's in very good condition with just some wear to the finish. I photographed the brown paper backing and then removed and discarded it because it was torn and there was dirt behind it. I then photographed the poster alone, without glass and again, in the frame. Measures: FRAME: 15" X 21" POSTER: 14" x 20" Weighs 3 lbs, including the glass. POSTER CONDITION: Fading of the red ink. Water stain, upper right edge. Otherwise, very good condition, as shown. This is an excerpt from an announcement in the August 8, 1861, New York Times about The Clinton Rifles: "This fine corps of riflemen, under the command of Colonel J. A. Page, is fast preparing for the seat of war. The regiment has been accepted by the government, with orders to get them in immediate readiness to be dispatched to Washington. ...The regiment will be a first class one, and no doubt will do good execution when brought to the field of action. They are well trained in the rifle practice. The pay, equipments and rations will be first class, and at the expiration of the war a liberal bounty will be given to each man." The Clinton Rifles was mustered in 1861 as part of the 57th Infantry regiment along with companies from the National Guard Rifles, the United States Voltigeurs, the Washington Zouaves and the Manhattan Rifles. That regiment, after being stationed for a short time at Washington, moved on to Manassas in November and to the Peninsula early in the spring, where it took part in the siege of Yorktown and was first closely engaged in the battle of Fair Oaks (also called Seven Pines). There, Lieut. Col. Massett and many other gallant men lost their lives. In all, 106 were killed or wounded and 4 reported missing, out of the 432 who went into action. The loss in the Seven Days' battles was still greater, and the ranks that gathered at Harrison's landing after the battle of Malvern hill were sadly depleted. At Antietam the regiment was in the thick of the fight, losing 98 killed and wounded and 3 missing, and at Fredericksburg it served in Hancock's division in the unsuccessful assault on Marye's Heights. At Chancellorsville in May, 1863, the troops under Col. Miles made a gallant defense of the retreating union army which won them high praise, and at Gettysburg they participated in the II Corps' advance in "the Wheatfield." There the 57th regiment was exposed to heavy enemy fire, and lost more than half its strength. There was little rest for the worn regiment during the autumn. It participated at Auburn, Bristoe Station (where the II Corps shattered an attack by Confederate general AP Hill), Rappahannock Station and in the Mine Run campaign. It was mid-winter when it finally established permanent winter quarters near Brandy Station. In December and January a large number of men reenlisted and received veteran furlough. The regiment was reunited in the spring of 1864 and served with honor through the severe fighting which led up to Cold Harbor and Petersburg, suffering most severely in the bloody angle at Spotsylvania. It joined in the first assault on Petersburg, and was engaged at Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Reams' station and Hatcher's Run. It was present at the Fall of Petersburg, joined in the pursuit to Appomattox, and was engaged at Sailor's Creek and Farmville. The 57th regiment's record is a long and glorious one and it bravely earned its right to rank among the most gallant organizations of the Union army.

Price: 95 USD

Location: Richmond, Virginia

End Time: 2024-12-17T13:49:13.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD