1863 The Federal Union --- It Must Be Preserved! | RARE Civil War Broadside
By: Unknown Artist
Date: 1863 (circa) Ohio
Dimensions: 21 x 16 inches (53.4 x 40.5 cm)
This is an original broadside honoring the enlisted officers and privates of Spear's 15th Ohio Battery. We have not found any other examples of this broadside and while we will not go as far to label it a one-of-a-kind work, it without a doubt, very rare.
One of the most ornate broadsides we have ever seen, this work features several scenes, portraits of major figures in the Union Army, including President Abraham Lincoln, and allegorical figures representing Lady Liberty. The names of the enlisted men are contained within columns draped in the American flag. At the bottom is a detailed and ongoing account of the actions of the 15th Ohio Battery, with the last entry stating their garrison in Memphis, Tennessee, April 1, 1863. Atop the broadside is a quote that originated at a dinner in 1830 where Andrew Jackson famously rebuked John C. Calhoun and other pro-nullification officials with the toast: “Our Federal Union, it must be preserved!”
The 15th Ohio Battery was organized by Captain Edward Spear Jr. at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio, and mustered in February 1, 1862, for a three-year enlistment. They marched and fought throughout much of the South and was involved in many battles, including the Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, and Atlanta, to name a few. The 15th Ohio Battery officially mustered out of service in Columbus, Ohio, on June 20, 1865. In all, the battery lost a total of 38 enlisted men during service; 8 killed or mortally wounded, 30 died due to disease.
Condition: This antique broadside print is in C condition, mounted onto a backing board, with chips and pieces missing along the outside. It has darkened with age and staining is apparent.
We have paper restorers that can do work on this print for an additional charge. Please let us know if this would be of interest and we can follow up with more details and a cost estimate.
Inventory #90102
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