General Thomas O. Osborn & Staff, 39th Illinois

General Thomas O. Osborn & Staff, 39th Illinois . A published albumen taken in 1865 of General Thomas O. Osborn (seated left) with unidentified members of his staff by anonymous photographer. Image size 5.75 x 8.5" mounted on slightly larger cream board.

Thomas Ogden Osborn (1832-1904) was a lawyer, diplomat, and lesser known Civil War general hailing from Chicago. Osborn recruited the 39th Illinois, known as the Yates Phalanx, becoming the regiment's colonel in December 1861. One of the few Illinois regiments to serve in the eastern theater, the 39th was initially attached to the Dept. of West Virginia and briefly the Army of the Potomac (2nd, 5th, 4th Corps) where it was detached to Valley operations fighting at Winchester. After a short spell at Suffolk with the 7th Corps the 39th was then assigned to the Dept. of the South joining in January 1863.

Thereafter, the regiment served successively in the 18th, 10th, and 24th Corps participating in the assault on Morris Island and the siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg during the summer of 1863. Colonel Osborn held temporary brigade command and was severely wounded at Drury's Bluff on May 14, 1864 during the Bermuda Hundred fighting, the regiment sustaining heavy casualties in subsequent operations at Deep Bottom and Deep River as well.

Osborn was brevetted Brigadier General in March 1865 and returning from convalescent leave took command of a brigade in the newly organized 24th Corp, Army of the James, during final operations against Richmond and the Petersburg defenses. The regiment's crowning glory came on April 2, 1865 during the attack on Fort Gregg described as "the key to the works about Petersburg and Richmond." The 39th displayed extraordinary gallantry in this charge across an open field completely covered "from the front and a raking cross fire from each side" being "the first to plant its colors upon the works." Color Sergeant Henry M. Day was awarded a Medal of Honor while the regiment was presented with "a magnificent brazen eagle, cast for the purpose" by corps commander Major General John Gibbon. Colonel Osborn was awarded two brevets to brigadier and major general.

The regiment participated in the Appomattox campaign and witnessed the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginal being specially detailed to "guard over the camps and baggage of the conquered army." On May 1, 1865 General Osborn was promoted to full brigadier general. The regiment mustered out on December 12, 1865, formally turning over to the State Adjutant General its "battle torn flags" including the presentation eagle won at Ft. Gregg.

General Osborn returned to Chicago and resumed his legal career and in 1874 was appointed Minister to Argentina. While serving in Buenos Aires, Osborn worked successfully to arbitrate a long standing Patagonian border dispute between Argentina and Chile resulting in a treaty ratified in 1880 with the official thanks of the Argentine Government. Osborn dabbled in various railroad ventures in South America during the 1880's and returned to Chicago in 1890 and retired. General Thomas O. Osborn died in March 1904 and is buried in Arlington.

Image slightly light with scattered "fly specking;" mount trimmed.