Rare Albumen of Id’d Confederate SC Officer by Famed Photographer Geo. S. Cook

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Rare Albumen of Id’d Confederate SC Officer by Famed Photographer Geo. S. Cook – This large size albumen, housed in its original frame with original glass, depicts a young Confederate Lieutenant, wearing a frock coat. The wood back of the albumen has an old typed tag that reads:

“FRANCIS MARION GODBOLD OF MARION

AND ABBERVILLE, S.C. GRANDFATHER

OF HARRISON VANCE GODBOLD, JR.

WAS AT FT. SUMPTER (sic) WHEN FIRST SHOT

WAS FIRED. FOUGHT THRU ENTIRE

CIVIL WAR.”

 On the inside of the wood back, is a Civil War period label that reads:

“GEO. S. COOK,

PHOTOGRAPHIC

ARTIST,

CHARLESTON, S.C.”

On the back of the image itself is taped the name and address of a descendant of Francis Marion Godbold who’s last name is also Godbold. The image proper measures approximately 7” in height and 5” in width and remains in excellent condition. Godbold had a rather interesting war record – he enlisted, at the onset of the war, as a 3^rd Lieutenant in Co. B of Alston’s Artillery Battalion, in Charleston; shortly thereafter, he joined Company C of the famed Battery Siege Train or Manigault’s Battalion of Light Artillery, in Charleston; after serving until early in 1863, Godbold spent some time at home, only to re-enlist in Company B of Tucker’s Cavalry which became Company F of the 7^th SC Cavalry; he appears as a courier in Gary’s Cavalry Brigade through most of 1864; he was paroled at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. We presume that Godbold was with South Carolina troops in Petersburg during the siege, as we was with Confederate troops when Lee surrendered. We have had many albumens, but this is the first Confederate, large size albumen we have had; indeed, we have seen very few, at all. Of great significance, as well, is the fact that this image was created in the studio of the renowned southern photographer, George S. Cook of Charleston. We have not previously encountered an image with a war time label from Cook’s Charleston studio. This is a rare image, taken by a famed, southern photographer.

 Francis M. Godbold

Manigault’s Battalion, South Carolina Artillery

18th Heavy Artillery Battalion [often called the Siege Train Artillery Battalion] was organized during the spring of 1862 with three companies. Many of the men were from Charleston. It was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and fought at Fort Sumter, Grimball’s Landing, Battery Wagner, James Island, and John’s Island. In June, 1864, Company C was transferred to Pegram’s Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia and was active in the Petersburg siege. That December it returned to the battalion which later served as infantry in the Army of Tennessee. It surrendered on April 26, 1865. The field officers were Majors Charles Alston, Jr. and Edward Manigault.

Manigault’s Battalion Artillery, South Carolina Artillery

18th Heavy Artillery Battalion [often called the Siege Train Artillery Battalion] was organized during the spring of 1862 with three companies. Many of the men were from Charleston. It was assigned to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and fought at Fort Sumter, Grimball’s Landing, Battery Wagner, James Island, and John’s Island.

In June, 1864, Company C was transferred to Pegram’s Battalion of Artillery, Army of Northern Virginia and was active in the Petersburg siege. That December it returned to the battalion which later served as infantry in the Army of Tennessee. The unit was surrendered by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at Durham Station, Orange County, NC on April 26, 1865. The field officers were Majors Charles Alston, Jr. and Edward Manigault.

Battles:
Charleston Harbor (Aug – Sept 1863)
Legareville SC (25 Dec 1863)
Carolinas Campaign SC (Feb – April 1865)