One of Matthew Brady's most famous photos of the Civil War, the three men are relatives of mine that were taken captive by Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 2 & 3 1863. The man at the center is my Great Grand Uncle Captain Thomas Jefferson Baldwin of the 50th Virginia Infantry. The young man sitting on the rail is our cousin PVT Ephraim Blevins of the 26th NC Infantry and to the right is Ephraim's father, PVT Andrew Z. Blevins. The 26th NC Infantry was the elite, best equipped assault troops of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee during the war. The 26th lead the assault on the 1st day on Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge. They were decimated at Gettysburg, loosing nearly 600 of their 900 soldiers. They filled in the left flank of Pickett's Charge. I am amazed that they survived Gettysburg. Captain "Jeff" escaped and fought on until Appomatox. Ephraim and his dad spent the rest of the war at the horrible Yankee prison at Point Lookout, Maryland :)
Comments
One of Matthew Brady's most famous photos of the Civil War, the three men are relatives of mine that were taken captive by Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg July 1, 2 & 3 1863. The man at the center is my Great Grand Uncle Captain Thomas Jefferson Baldwin of the 50th Virginia Infantry. The young man sitting on the rail is our cousin PVT Ephraim Blevins of the 26th NC Infantry and to the right is Ephraim's father, PVT Andrew Z. Blevins. The 26th NC Infantry was the elite, best equipped assault troops of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee during the war. The 26th lead the assault on the 1st day on Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge. They were decimated at Gettysburg, loosing nearly 600 of their 900 soldiers. They filled in the left flank of Pickett's Charge. I am amazed that they survived Gettysburg. Captain "Jeff" escaped and fought on until Appomatox. Ephraim and his dad spent the rest of the war at the horrible Yankee prison at Point Lookout, Maryland :)