Bidspirit auction | GRATZ, SIMON. CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH. Standing

GRATZ, SIMON. CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH. Standing view in uniform holding hat. Photog: Burnite and Weldon, Harrisburg. A member of the distinguished Jewish Philadelphia family dating to colonial times. Corporal Simon Gratz - then in Company I, Second Pennsylvania Infantry, a three month regiment organized in Harrisburg. Later, he served in Company A, 127th Pennsylvania Infantry from July, 1862 to May, 1863 and fought at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Gratz served subsequently in the 57th U. S. Colored Infantry where he rose in rank to captain. This regiment saw action in Arkansas fighting General J.O Shelby and guarding forts. Gratz was honorably discharged December 1866. He later fought in the Cuban War of Independence. Photograph identified in an album that also contained a photograph of Louis Gratz, then serving in another early war unit based in Harrisburg. The two men were not related yet met and exchanged photos.