Bidspirit auction | SHIMMEL, AUGUST. CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH. Relaxed

SHIMMEL, AUGUST. CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH. Relaxed seated pose in uniform holding a slouch hat with “US” insignia and hat cord. “Captain August Simmel” written below in brown period ink. Boldly signed on the verso by Shimmel in the field following the humiliating Union defeat at Fredericksburg: “Remember A. Shimmel. Stephens Farm near Stafford, Febry, 19, 1863.” No photog. imprint. Captain August Shimmel (1829-93) was born in Saxony. The Shapell Roster records him as having served in ten commands over the course of the war. He entered the service as regimental quartermaster of the 8th New York Infantry on August 1, 1861 with the rank of first lieutenant. Generals Steinwehr, Ingallls and Stahel tried to have him assigned to their respective commands. Shimmel’s final command was in the Right Wing of Sherman’s Army; he was discharged in Savannah on April 22, 1865.