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Civil War combat Marine cdv photograph


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This Civil War carte de visite pictures identified Marine Corps Corporal Thomas W. Swayne:

 

 

post-124583-0-47480900-1471539045.jpg

 

 

 

post-124583-0-36372300-1471539053.jpg

 

 

Online records show that 19 year old Swayne, enlisted in the USMC at Philadelphia, PA on 30 MAR 1861 and was assigned to the USS Minnesota.

 

He served on the Minnesota for over 3 years. The USS Minnesota was the Flagship of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron and was part of the Battle of Hampton Roads. During which the ship ran aground and took several casualties after being fired on by the CSS Jamestown, Patrick Henry and Virginia (Merrimack).

 

In May of 1864, Swayne was first noted as being transferred to the USS Malvern. The Malvern was a captured blockade runner that was used to enforce the Atlantic Blockade. The ship participated in the Fort Fisher Campaign.

 

Swayne was promoted to CPL on 18 SEP 1864.

 

In late MAR 1865, Swayne was transferred to Norfolk Station, VA with a status of awaiting discharge from the USS Malvern.

 

He was discharged on 16 APR 1865 and returned to Philadelphia, where he worked for the railroad. He was tragically killed a short 5 years later in a train accident.

 

 

Scott

post-124583-0-01116600-1471539037.jpg

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Here is a blow up/ oriented image of the identification on the back:

 

post-124583-0-18215400-1471540561_thumb.jpg

 

Swayne's signing of the cdv in three different places is unusual!

 

Tax stamps on the image would bracket it from 1 AUG 64- 31 JUL 66. Based on the CPL rank (18 SEP 64) and location, I would suspect the image was made close to his discharge from service.

 

Scott

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  • 4 weeks later...

Man, that is a SOLID image. Great ink inscription. Well-done on the research!

 

John

Thanks-- I appreciate that.

 

Most of the documentation on ship service came from the FREE site Familysearch.org.

 

I need to give a big thank you to the folks on here who have mentioned the usefulness of the site.

 

Scott

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