Sgt. Warren French, Civil War CDV Album & Related Documents 

Lot of 14, including a 4.25 x 5.25 in. album containing 10 CDVs or CDV-sized tintypes, 6 of which depict Warren French during the Civil War (3) and after (3). An inked label affixed to the album's first page reads Warren French/ Capt./ 2nd Battery Boston. Two unmarked cartes show the same studio view of French in full uniform, standing with his sword at his side, and a third war-period carte features Captain French seated beside an unidentified officer, with a Ruggles & Matthews, Roxbury backmark. The album also contains 3 post-war views of French, including a tintype portrait of him in full uniform, wearing a jacket adorned with medals and belt buckle marked "D." A tintype and CDV, with A.J. Hatstat, Boston imprint, showing French in his later years also accompany the lot, as well as 4 studio portraits of unidentified soldiers dressed in full uniform.

Prior to the Civil War, Warren French worked as a carpenter and stair builder in Boston, MA, where he joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts in April 1851. He was honorably discharged two years later, but again joined the company from 1865-1867. Although French was too old for military service when the Civil War broke out, in August of 1862 he mustered into the 11th Massachusetts Independent Battery for nine months, and was sent to Camp Berry in November 1862 to aid in the defense of Washington. The battery also had duty along the Potomac River, Centreville Heights, Upton's Hill, and Forts Randolph and Buffalo, before returning to Boston and mustering out on May 29, 1863. French then joined Company A of the 42nd Massachusetts Militia Infantry as captain in July 1864. The 42nd never left the state and was mustered out in November 1864. Pension records indicate that French died of typhoid fever in Boston on May 19, 1879. 

The lot also features 4 war-date documents pertaining to French, including his Massachusetts appointment to sergeant of the Light Artillery, First Brigade, First Division of the Volunteer Militia of Massachusetts, dated August 25, 1862; discharge from the Light Artillery, dated May 29, 1863; Boston Light Artillery discharge dated September 8, 1863; and an ALS from Captain Edward Jones, 11th Massachusetts Battery, recommending that French be commissioned lieutenant in one of the Light Batteries or Regiments of Heavy Artillery, dated January 2, 1864. A binder containing copies of French's military and pension records also accompanies the lot.

One of the standing views of French looks like it might have had a little bit of water damage. One of the tintypes of French in civilian clothing shows some slight cracking on surface. One tintype of unidentified soldier in full uniform is heavily scratched.