Identified Civil War CDV Adjt. Joseph Dudley 16th Ky.

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Signed CDV of Adjutant Joseph Dudley,Jr.16th Kentucky Infantry, USATragically killed by a falling tree during a storm A member of his regimental band, his circular cornet is pictured in the Time-Life book, (Union) "Echoes of Glory" From my personal collection comes this wonderful, original CDV, signed in period ink by one unfortunate soldier... he did not die in the line of fire, as a prisoner, or of a disease - but his sacrifice was no less noble, and without a doubt equally mourned by his comrades, friends and family. According to "The Civil War, Strange and Fascinating Facts", by Burke Noble, out of the 3.5 - 4 million soldiers involved (including both Union and Confederate Armies), approximately 620,000 died in the war. Only 4144 of this total number - about 0.7% - were attributed to accidental deaths. As most readers of the Civil War are aware, the number of battle deaths on either side was overshadowed by the larger number of deaths due to disease. Following this were: deaths in prison, drowning, accidental deaths, murders, suicides, sunstrokes, executions, etc.The CDV is in excellent condition, clear, and with good tone. You can clearly see his 9 button vest with stand-up collar, and the checkered tablecloth. The only damage is a tiny bend in the upper left-hand corner. T is some minor foxing on the back of the image, but none on the front. T are two lighter spots in the area of the right-hand side of his frock coat, which you can see in my photos. The backmark reads: "Photographed by John Cadwallader, Maysville, Ky." The pencilled name of "John Hammer," in a more modern cursive, is also on the back of the CDV. It's significance is unknown; perhaps it was the owner of the CDV. Certainly, the inked period inscription of "Jos. Dudley Jr." is much more likely to be have been written by the subject. The photograph may have been taken when Dudley was home on furlough; it was certainly taken after July 1862, because that was when Dudley was promoted to adjutant.Joseph Dudley Jr. was born on June 23, 1836 in Flemingsburg, Fleming County, Kentucky. He was the fifth of nine children (and third eldest son) born to Joseph Dudley and Harriet Hackley Bruce Dudley. Joseph Dudley Sr. was a miller in Flemingsburg at the start of the Civl War, and Joseph Jr. worked as a "laborer", according to the 1860 census - quite possibly in his father's mill. When and w he obtained his musical ability is unknown. In the Fall of 1861, the 16th Kentucky Infantry was being organized in neighboring Mason County, On December 18, 1861, Joseph joined as a Sergeant in Company H of that regiment. He must have been one of the more literate and dependable soldiers, for he was quickly promoted to the regimental staff as Full Adjutant on July 29, 1862. After the regiment was mustered into service Jan. 27, 1862, it remained in Kentucky. It was engaged in various duties until Aug. 1863, when it was ordered to Glasgow, and thence marched with Gen. Burnside's expedition to East Tennessee. At Kingston it aided in repelling an attack made by Confederate cavalry. It participated in the movements connected with the siege of Knoxville, afterward marched to Strawberry Plains, thence to Mossy Creek, w it was engaged in a severe battle in which the Federals under command of Gens. Elliott and Sturgis successfully fought a large Confederate force under Gens. Martin, Armstrong and Morgan and pursued them from the field.At Mossy Creek, Dec. 27, 1863, the regiment reenlisted and thence marched to Kentucky, crossing the mountains by way of Big Creek gap. The month of January was spent on "veteran furlough," and when that was over the men reassembled and went into camp at Louisville, w they remained performing guard duty during the months of Feb. and March 1864. In April the regiment was ordered to Camp Nelson, whence it marched through the mountains of Kentucky and by way of Jacksboro, Tenn., to Knoxville. From t it proceeded by rail to Red Clay, GA, w it joined Sherman's army for... read more

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