Beschreibung:

Lot of 4 CDVs, including three views of Richard Dunfy, identified in one of the portraits as "Richard D. Dunphy, Of Admiral Farragut's Flag Ship, HARTFORD, lost his arms by a shell, from the Rebel Ram TENNESSEE, in Mobile Bay, Aug'st. 5th 1864." One view credited to W.S. Pendleton's Photographic Gallery, New York, while the others lack a studio mark. Accompanied by a CDV of the USS Hartford, dated in caption, "Oct. 1st, 1864" and credited on verso to McPherson & Oliver, New Orleans, LA. Irish native, Richard D. Dunphy was a US Navy coal heaver aboard Admiral David Farragut's flagship, the USS Hartford, during its two hour contest with the Confederate ironclad, Tennessee, in Mobile Bay, AL in August of 1864. Though the Battle of Mobile Bay ended in a Union victory, Dunphy was among the many injured, losing both arms when a shell from the Tennessee exploded below deck. Dunphy's skill and courage in the costly battle was recognized four months later when he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Though nationally recognized, Dunphy still found himself in financial need. Therefore, he and other disabled veterans sold photographs of themselves in order to augment their pensions. In Dunphy's case, a women's organization based out of Connecticut helped sell CDVs featuring Dunphy with his story printed on the back. Source: Leisenring, Jr., Richard. "Philanthropic Photographs," Military Images, Spring 2018. Condition: CDVS with some discoloration, one with clipped corners.