Description
Charles Philemon Layton enlisted in Company H, 9th VA Cavalry (Captain W. H. F. “Rooney” Lee’s company) on June 22, 1861 at King William County, VA. He was listed as absent, sick and returned to duty three times (June 15, 1861, January 15, 1863 and July 15, 1864). He became a POW on September 15, 1862 at Boonsboro, MD during the Antietam campaign, and was exchanged on November 10, 1862. He was listed as AWOL on October 6, 1864, but was present at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. He apparently was not paroled and escaped with others for fear of losing their horses. Layton was born in August of 1838 in Middlesex County, VA and died on March 31, 1899. He is buried in the Parrish-Layton-Rucker-Cornwell-Bohannon Cemetery in Urbanna, VA. He was married to Ellen H. Gatewood on October 8, 1877 at Urbanna, VA.
The image of Layton is a quarter plate size copy image, made from a Charles Rees original. The image was photographed onto milk glass, which is termed an opalotype. Copy images in this format were popular post-war. The image is nicely colored and is quite pleasing and artistic. The Rees signature is visible under Layton’s arm that is not resting on the table. The image is housed in a complete leatherette case with repaired spine.
