September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
Carte-de-Visite, of Andrew E. Mather, Lt. Col. of the 20th United States Colored Troops, signed on verso by him "Yours very truly A E Mather Lieut. Col. 20th USCT." Some minor dampstaining, else about VG. Andrew Mather enlisted as a Lieutenant in the 121st New York Infantry on August 18, 1862 for a period of three years. Mather would be promoted to Captain, Major and ultimately to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and would further serve in command of the 20th United States Colored Troops. On May 3, 1863, Captain Mather and his Regiment would engage C.S.A. Troops at Salem Church, Virginia in which Mather would be exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, resulting in 200 Union soldiers being killed or wounded in action. In the battle, Mather would be one of the wounded, receiving a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Captain Mather would be remembered for his gallantry in action on the third day by Union Colonel Emory Upton who wrote the following in an after action report. "Gallant Captain Mather, though severely wounded through the shoulder, bore the colors [the 121st Regt. Battleflag] and remained by them until night." During the engagement at Rappahannock Station, Virginia, Major Mather and the 121st New York would charge Confederate positions and capture a Confederate battleflag and further capture the entire Louisiana Brigade of Stonewall Jackson's old Division (to include 103 officers, 1,200 enlisted men and 1,225 stand of arms.) Mather would be recognized for commanding his Regiment with "great success" during this engagement. He joined the 20th USCT sometime in early 1864. He is noted at the African-American Civil War Memorial, being plaque number B-37.
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