Sepia Saturday: Father Quinn

I love Civil War photographs and images from that era. TheY speak of such a time of upheaval, of unspeakable loss arising because men believed that war was the answer even when they weren't sure what the question was.

I love the images even more when I can learn a little bit about the subject of the photograph.

 Photo from Library of Congress Civil War Collection.

This is Father Thomas Quinn in his military uniform. He was a chaplain with the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery for a brief period of time, during which this photograph was captured. He mustered into the unit on November 8. 1861 and was discharged by special order effective January 3, 1861.

Prior to his tenure in the 1st R.I. Light Artillery, he had been chaplain to the Ist Rhode Island Infantry, serving with them at the first Battle of Manassas. After their service commitment ended, he joined the 3rd Rhode Island Infantry Regiment.  Several Irish Catholics enlisted in this unit and two of them were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of bravery during the war.


Some sources say that Fr. Quinn was Canadian-born, but the 1870 census lists his place of birth as Maine. He was born about 1820.  I can't find an entry for him in the 1880 Census, so he may have died fairly young.

Comments

Tattered and Lost said…
Love the attitude in the pose. Will forever wonder if it was truly him or the photographers suggestion.
September 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Vicki Lane said…
Rather a dashing priest!
September 3, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Marilyn & Jeff said…
I love his clothes and the way he is standing, he looks so staunch.
I wish I had a photo of my great great grandfather as he came to NZ from America during the Civil War, was he dodging the war, working on whaling ships or after gold recently found in NZ; research shows that he was crew on a ship, that's all I know.
September 3, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Unknown said…
He doesn't look like a priest does he. He looks full of character.
September 4, 2010 at 1:18 AM
Alan Burnett said…
There is always a special thrill when looking at photographs this old. They seem to reach right back and give us a connection to an age that, usually, we think of as pre-photographic. Thanks for sharing the image and adding so much rich history to it.
September 4, 2010 at 1:54 AM
PattyF said…
Great photo, and excellent background information, Meri. I wonder ... is the tunic specific to a military priest, or was it what all the Rhode Islanders wore at that time? It makes him look very gallant. The only thing he's missing is a sabre.
September 4, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Nancy said…
I agree: images are better when we know a little about the person, his/her life, the social and political climate in which he/she lived, etc. I think the uniform with the sash around the waist is very interesting.
September 4, 2010 at 5:41 PM
Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said…
A beautiful and interesting daguerreotype photograph. I guess his dashing uniform was more for formal wear then to go into the melee of a battle.
September 5, 2010 at 12:02 AM
Martin said…
That's quite a picture from history, Meri. To think, the American civil war was going on when my great grandparents were probably just out of school.
September 5, 2010 at 1:42 AM
North County Film Club said…
It's hard to imagine such a fierce looking priest. If I was Catholic I wouldn't want to go to him for confession.
Very interesting post!
September 5, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sepia Saturday: The Nez Perce

Image
My grandfather, whose childhood years were spent in Wallowa County, Oregon, recalled that when he was a child, he used to see members of the Nez Percé tribe in the area, their summer hunting grounds. You may or may not know that the Nez Percé   had been granted reservation lands in 1855  by the Washington Territory's  territorial governor, Isaac Stevens.  The land reserved for the tribe encompassed  their traditional hunting lands,  including the Wallowa Valley.  But as settlement by whites continued and gold was found,  the incentive to honor that treaty diminished. The Nez Percé were offered a much smaller reservation centered around Lapwai, Idaho with schools,  a hospital and financial rewards.  In exchange, they had to cede their hunting lands.  Some of the tribal chiefs agreed,  but Chief Joseph (1840 - 1904) refused.  Unable come to an agreement with the U.S. government,  the non-treaty bands were threatened with forcible removal  if they did not voluntarily reloca
Read more

In Guad We Trust

Image
She is all around, answering fervent prayers. Working miracles f or those who believe. Radiating goddess energy out into the Universe. Just being an inspiration and consolation. Mosaic Monday . Mexico Monday. A Virgin a Day . And please join us  for Share the Joy Thursday .
Read more

Sepia Saturday: Letsinger Brothers of Putnam County

Image
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Liljenquist Family Collection LC-DIG- ppmsca-27248 ] This portrait shows brothers William and Phillip J. Letsinger of Company D, 14th Indiana Regiment, posing with rifles in front of Camp Michigan painted backdrop. They enlisted together on June 7, 1861 while living in Putnam County, Indiana. They both were inducted at the rank of private. William was discharged as a private on October 29, 1862.  His brother Phillip, who had been promoted to Corporal, was one of 3252 men killed at Antietam on September 17, 1862. Antietam,  also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the first Civil War battle fought on northern territory.  Sepia Saturday.
Read more