Albumen of Brevet Colonel Henry C. Shumway, Captain of the 8th Company National Guard, 7th Regiment NYSM

Albumen of Brevet Colonel Henry C. Shumway, Captain of the 8th Company National Guard, 7th Regiment New York State Militia - Very clear albumen.  Shumway is posed resting his left hand upon his Model 1850 foot officer's sword.  He wears a triple breasted New York Militia swallow tail coat, with Captain's rank should bars on his shoulder epaulets.  A New York belt plate is clearly visible.  A very nice albumen of an individual having served in such famous regiments of New York city.  Nicely framed frame measures 14" x 10 3/4".

Henry C. Shumway:

Residence New York City NY; a 53 year-old Artist.

Enlisted on 4/17/1861 at New York City, NY as a Captain.

On 4/26/1861 he was commissioned into "H" Co. NY 7th Inf SM

He was Mustered Out on 6/3/1861 at New York, NY

On 5/25/1862 he was commissioned into "H" Co. NY 7th Inf Nat'l Guard

He was Mustered Out on 9/5/1862 at New York, NY

On 7/20/1863 he was commissioned into "H" Co. NY 7th Inf Nat'l Guard

He was Mustered Out on 7/20/1863 at New York, NY

Other Information:

Born 7/4/1807 in Middletown, CT

Died 5/6/1884 in New York City, NY

The following was submitted by:  Robin Young

Biographies of Notable Americans, 1904 The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX

SHUMWAY, Henry Cotton, portrait painter, was born in Middletown, Conn., July 4, 1807.

He attended the public schools; served as a clerk in his father's office until his twenty-first birthday, and at an early age produced pencil sketches, mostly portraits, of considerable promise. He attended the antique and life classes of the National Academy of Design in New York city, 1828-29; and established himself as a painter of miniature portraits on ivory in New York city in 1830, making transient visits to Washington Hartford, and other cities.

About 1860 he engaged as a photographer in New York city, in addition to his miniature painting, in which he had gained a reputation that gave him the sum of $300 for a portrait upon five-inch ivory.

He was a member of the New York state militia for thirty-five years: and aided in organizing the 7th New York regiment in which he was captain twenty-eight years.

He became an associate of the National Academy of Design in 1831, and an Academician in 1832, and received a gold palette for the best miniature portrait in the art exhibition of the New York state fair in 1844. The subjects of his many portraits include: Henry Clay, Judge Storrs, Colonel Wadsworth, Daniel Webster, members of the Trumbull family, and a large head of Napoleon III., from life (1838).

He died in New York city, May 6, 1884.

New York Seventh Regiment, National Guard

Col., Marshall Lefferts; Lieut.-Col., William A.Pond; Maj., Alexander Shaler.

This famous regiment of New York city dates its origin from April, 1806, when Cos. A, B, C and D, were organized at the time of the excitement created by the British firing on American vessels off Sandy Hook.

At the beginning of 1861 it was known as one of the best appointed and drilled militia regiments then in existence.  It was composed of excellent material, all its members being young men engaged in active business pursuits in the metropolis,and was the first New York regiment to leave for the front.

Its departure for Washington, April 19, 1861, was attended by scenes of great excitement and enthusiasm, its line of march through the streets of New York being a perfect ovation.  Speaking of the National Guard regiments furnished by New York, Col . Fox, in his Regimental Losses in the Civil War, says:

"Of these troops, the 7th regiment, National Guard -- or 7th Militia, as it was called -- was particularly conspicuous by the surprising celerity with which it went to the front in time of need; by its superior drill and equipment; and by the high standard of personal character which marked its rank and file.

When the war broke out it was among the very first to take the field, leaving New York with 991 officers and men, and by its timely arrival at Washington contributed largely to the relief of the threatened capital.  This, its first enlistment, was for 30 days.

It volunteered again in May,1862, for three months; and again in June, 1863, for one month.  But the 7th rendered a far greater and more valuable service to the country by the large number of efficient and well-drilled soldiers, which went from its ranks to accept commissions in the new volunteer regiments.

The volunteers were lacking in drill and military experience; the proficiency of the 7th was well known and membership in its ranks was a guarantee of character.  Hence the volunteer service made such demands on it for officers that 603 men of this regiment were commissioned in other commands during the war.  It was the West Point of the New York volunteer service.

The 7th has no casualty list of its own, but of the officers which graduated from its ranks, 41 were killed in battle and 17 died of disease while in the service."

News of the riot in Baltimore, in which some of the soldiers of the 6th Mass. were killed, was received before the regiment left New York, and the members were each provided with 48 rounds of ball-cartridge.  On reaching Philadelphia orders were received to deviate from the route through Baltimore, as it was highly important that the regiment should reach Washington as soon as possible.

It moved by rail as far as Perryville and thence by steamer to Annapolis, whence it made the toilsome march to Washington in company with the 8th Mass.  It reached the capital on the 26th, and was at once mustered into the U. S. service for 30 days.  It crossed the Potomac with the first troops, when Alexandria and Arlington Heights were occupied; assisted in the construction of Fort Runyon; served at Washington until the expiration of its term, and was mustered out at New York city, June 3, 1861.

On the day before it left the capital, an order was issued from the war department, of which the following is an extract:

"It is the desire of the war department, in relinquishing the services of this gallant regiment, to make known the satisfaction that is felt at the prompt and patriotic manner in which it responded to the call for men to defend the capital, when it was believed to be in peril, and to acknowledge the important service which it rendered by appearing here in an hour of dark and trying necessity.  The time for which it had engaged has now expired.  The service which it was expected to perform has been handsomely accomplished, and its members may return to their native city with the assurance that its services are gratefully appreciated by all good and loyal citizens, whilst the government is equally confident that when the country again calls upon them, the appeal will not be made in vain to the young men of New York."

On May 25, 1862, when Stonewall Jackson's strong column suddenly invaded the Valley of the Shenandoah and again seriously endangered the national capital, the 7th, still commanded by Col. Lefferts, once more promptly tendered its services to the general government.  As in 1861, it was the first of the militia regiments in readiness to leave for the front.

On its arrival at Baltimore it was halted and ordered to report to Gen. Dix, commanding the Middle Department, with headquarters at Baltimore, and on June 19, 1862, it was mustered into the U. S.service for three months, to date from May 25.  Most of this term was spent at and near Baltimore.  It was mustered out at New York city, Sept. 9, 1862.

On June 16, 1863, at the time of Lee's invasion of the north, the 7th once more entered the U.S. service, being mustered in at New York city for 30 days.  It left the state on the 17th, under command of Col. Lefferts, and served at Baltimore, and Frederick, Md.,in the 2nd separate brigade, 8th corps, Middle Department, until assigned on July 7, at Frederick, to the 3d division of the 3d corps, under command of Maj.-Gen. French.

For several days after the battle of Gettysburg Col. Lefferts was in command of the city of Frederick.  On July 14, the 7th received orders to report to Maj.-Gen. Wool during the draft riots in New York city, and arrived in New York on the 16th.  It was mustered out on July 20.

During its service in 1861 it lost 1 man, accidentally killed.  On the three occasions when it was called into service it had a unique record for the promptness and alacrity with which it responded to each call to arms.