Beschreibung:

Sixth plate ruby ambrotype of John Barclay Withers, with period pencil inscription inside complete case, underneath the image: Ambrotype of Jno. B. Withers/ Blk Horse Cavalry/ Co H 4th Va. Cavalry/ Stuart's Division. Accompanied by calling card, presumably pencil inscribed in Withers' hand: John B. Withers - Old Dominion Rifles/ Co. H. 17th Regt. Va. Vols, 1.75 x 3 in. The formal, hand-tinted ambrotype shows Withers wearing his Confederate uniform, consisting of a grey overcoat with "epaulette" stripe, the buttons highlighted in gold. Taken ca 1863. John Barclay Withers (1845-1917), a 19-year-old clerk from Fauquier County, VA, enlisted in April, 1861 at Alexandria as a Private with Co. H, 17th Virginia Infantry. Within months, he was wounded at the First Battle of Manassas on July 1, 1861. In 1863, Withers was promoted to Regimental Ordnance Sergeant Pro Tem, and he later joined Mosby's 43rd Batallion Virginia Cavalry Partisan Rangers as Lieutenant. During a raid in Fauquier County, VA, on September 24, 1863, Withers was captured, and as a POW, he was first sent to Old Capital Prison, WA, then transferred to Johnson's Island, OH on 10/4/63, Point Lookout, MD on 10/8/63, and Fort Delaware, DE on 10/12/63. He was released on June 8, 1865, swearing the Oath of Allegiance at Fort Delaware. Following his death in 1917, Withers was buried in Warrenton Cemetery, Warrenton, VA. Condition: Solarization where plate meets mat; full case separated at hinge.