Iowa Infantry at Reunion, Co. K. 22nd, Iowa City, Sept. 22 & 23, 1886, Albumen Photograph

Description

This albumen photo portrays a reunion of veterans of Company K, 22nd Iowa Volunteers at Iowa City, Iowa, September 22 – 23, 1886. The photo depicts 25 people, of which 22 appear to be middle-aged men. All are likely veterans of the company.

The veterans and women pose in front of a painted backdrop. The photo is signed in stamp “Elite Studio Photo” indicating that it was produced at Elite Photography Studio, 11 Dubuque Street, in Iowa City. The proprietor of Elite Photography studio was D. R. Coover, who was likely the photographer.

Company K was part of a celebrated and well-traveled regiment. The 22nd Iowa was recruited largely from Johnson County, Iowa, which includes Iowa City. Their first major campaign was Vicksburg, in which they saw action at Champion Hill, Big Black River Bridge, and the assault of May 22, 1863. In the last battle a squad from the regiment famously breached the Confederate Railroad Redoubt briefly, making them the only Union soldiers to break the rebel lines that day. In 1864, the regiment was transferred to the eastern theater, where they fought with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, including battles at Winchester and Cedar Creek. Few units could boast such far-flung battle honors.

Card is chipped with loss at the corners. Albumen photo also lightly chipped with minor loss at the edges. 1” chip at the bottom right obscures the date, which is certainly 1886. Else very good. An impressive large-format relic of Civil War memory on the local scale.

Co. K. 22nd Iowa Infantry at Reunion. Iowa City, Sept. 22 & 23, 1886. Albumen photograph, mounted on card, 10 ½” x 14” approximately. Stamped Elite Studio Photo (D. R. Coover).