Description
Tis CDV depicts a nicely posed standing Union hospital steward. Written in period ink on the back is “Wm H Prime Co F 23d Mass V.” Prime enlisted on 10/9/1861 as a private in Company F of the 23rd Massachusetts Infantry. He was discharged on 12/6/1862, apparently to enlist as a hospital steward. Prime was from Salem Massachusetts. The CDV has the back mark “J. W. Moulton, ARTIST, No. 214 Essex Street, Salem.” The image has nice content, as the hospital steward armbands are visible on Prime’s sleeves. He is standing at a table with his kepi, and he is wearing a waist belt, sash and NCO sword. Of interest is the statement penned on the back of the CDV “this face is not wanted.” This was likely added by a patient who would have preferred a female volunteer nurse to a hospital steward! The CDV is crystal clear and in very nice condition except for a small chip on the left side that does not affect the content. Images of hospital stewards are uncommon, and this one has both great content and period identification.
