This nice sixth plate ruby ambrotype is a half-length portrait of a young bearded George Ryan of West Union, Ohio wearing an early war militia type uniform with double breasted frock coat with a single brass epaulette on shoulder. He is holding a non-regulation lion pommel sword in right hand, and clutching the brass scabbard in left, with rectangular officers type belt plate and non-regulation hat. Image is circa 1861. The 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized in Nov. 1861 with several of the companies having come from Adams County, Ohio, as did George Ryan. The 70th had an active and distinguished battle record seeing their first action during both days of the battle of Shiloh, after which Sherman singled out the Regiment for particular praise. Other battles include the siege of Jackson, Miss., Chickamauga, Chattanooga, then march to Atlanta, and all the battles leading up to the capture of the city. They were along for Sherman’s March to the Sea; and fought at Ft. McAllister, where it suffered terribly, but was the first to enter the fort. They marched through the Carolinas with Sherman, and fought its last battle at Bentonville, and participated in the Grand Review in Washington. This lot also includes the brass epaulette seen in the photo.

A few spots in background, else fine, epaulette ID fine.