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Best of Civil War Faces

by The Library of Congress

Our collection of rare portraits from the American Civil War has grown so wonderfully large that we asked the donor, Tom Liljenquist, to pick out his 30 favorites as an introduction.

Only 30? Not possible. This "best of" set highlights 40 Union and 20 Confederate images that feature poignant moments, unusual weaponry and uniforms, and other special features like a musical instrument or card game.

Please take a look at the full collection of more than 1,500 photos in Flickr, too!

Lots more information about the Liljenquist Collection is also available at the Library of Congress.

61 photos · 13.1K views

[Unidentified young soldier in Union uniform with musket and bayonet in scabbard] (LOC)

[Unidentified girl in mourning dress holding framed photograph of her father as a cavalryman with sword and Hardee hat] (LOC)

[Unidentified young soldier in Confederate uniform] (LOC)

[Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters] (LOC)

[Private Henry Augustus Moore of Co. F, 15th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, with artillery short sword and sign reading Jeff Davis and the South!] (LOC)

[Unidentified young sailor in uniform with American flag in front of backdrop showing naval scene] (LOC)

[Unidentified child named Carl who became a soldier; with handwritten note and lock of hair in case] (LOC)

[Unidentified young soldier in Confederate shell jacket, Hardee hat with Mounted Rifles insignia and plume with canteen and cup] (LOC)

[John E. Cummins of the 50th, 99th, and 185th Ohio Infantry regiments in Union uniform next to a horse] (LOC)

[Sergeant Cornelius V. Moore of Company B, 100th New York Volunteers, a sergeant of 39th Illinois Regiment, a corporal of 106th New York Volunteers, and a private of 11th Vermont Regiment in camp scene poses with painted backdrop showing military camp]

[Unidentified boy holding cased photograph of soldier in Confederate uniform atop a Bible] (LOC)

[Five unidentified soldiers in Union uniform of the 6th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia outfitted with Enfield muskets in front of encampment] (LOC)

[Private Silas A. Shirley of Co. H, 16th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, with books and sign reading Victory or Death!] (LOC)

[Edwin Chamberlain of Company G, 11th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment in sergeant's uniform with guitar] (LOC)

[Private Albert H. Davis of Company K, 6th New Hampshire Infantry Regiment in uniform, shoulder scales, and Hardee hat with Model 1841 Mississippi rifle, sword bayonet, knapsack with bedroll, canteen, and haversack] (LOC)

[Private Simeon J. Crews of Co. F, 7th Texas Cavalry Regiment, with cut down saber and revolver] (LOC)

[Corporal Alvin B. Williams of Company F, 11th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, with musket and a bayonet in scabbard; dog tag in case] (LOC)

[Unidentified African American Union soldier with a rifle and revolver in front of painted backdrop showing weapons and American flag at Benton Barracks, Saint Louis, Missouri] (LOC)

[Unidentified soldier in Confederate uniform with Berdan's Sharps rifle and Colt 1862 Police Model pistol] (LOC)

[Three unidentified soldiers in front of painted backdrop showing 34-star American flag] (LOC)

[Unidentified young soldier in Union uniform and forage cap with revolver] (LOC)

[Unidentified soldier of 1st Mississippi Cavalry Battalion in uniform and Confederate wishbone frame buckle, with 1st model Maynard carbine] (LOC)

[Unidentified soldier in Union uniform holding a U.S. Model 1855 pistol-carbine with attached shoulder stock and a saber] (LOC)

[Unidentified soldier in Confederate Virginia volunteer uniform with bayoneted musket] (LOC)