Wednesday, September 9, 2015

23rd Ohio Infantry's Regimental Band ca. 1862

The photograph above is from President Rutherford B. Hayes' personal collection. This albumen photograph is of his regiment's band, the 23rd Ohio Infantry. Although undated, it is thought to have been taken in 1862. The War Department authorized the formation of regimental bands in May 1861, but many were disbanded by July of 1862 under U.S. General Orders No. 91.  Some musicians formed brigade bands which were still allowed. Others joined their regiments as regular infantry combatants. 

Although President Hayes' personal photograph of the band is not dated and none of the band members are identified, recent research shows that the image was taken in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1863

Left to right, Front row: William Arthur, Edwin Arthur, John Cramer, George Smith, Theodore Belding, Alfred Arthur, William Brown, Jim Huffman
Left to right, Top row: Thad Coffin, Jim String, John Oswald, Ed Spring, Eugene Coffin,  Chris Miller, Arnold Issler

2 comments:

peter thompson said...

Hi,
The ancestral home of president William McKinley is the small village in Northern Ireland I come from. Earlier this year we organized our first ever event to celebrate McKinleys birthday, we hope to do this every year. Pictures of the event can be seen on our Facebook page, "Dervock and District History"
As you will be fully aware McKinley served with the 23rd Regiment, Ohio Infantry Volunteers and for our event next year we hope to have a drummer and a fifer in full uniform play a selection of Civil war tunes.
I have managed to purchase an old wooden drum which I have refurbished and it is now ready to be assembled and I hope to use this next year. What I would like to do is have the image that would have been used by his regiment on it and I was wondering could you help?
Kind Regards
Peter Thompson
I can be contacted via this message or
email address peterthompson1959@hotmail.com
Facebook Dervock and District History

Margaret said...

I am very curious... It appears someone was removed from the photograph (indicated by the white patch behind Mr. Oswald in the top row.) Does anyone know who was edited out and why they were removed?
By the way, great piece of history!