Andersonville Prison Georgia One of the most historic Andersonville artifacts we have offered! By: Robert Knox Sneden / SOLD

Andersonville Prison Georgia One of the most historic Andersonville artifacts we have offered! By: Robert Knox Sneden - Inventory Number: IDE 222 / SOLD

Ink inscription on the back: “Drawn by R.K. Sneden Topo. Engr, 3rd Corps. A.P. – 40th N.Y. (Mozart Regiment) – U.S. Vol. while a prisoner of Andersonville – Georgia – 1st March to Sept. 15th, 1864”

A newspaper printing attesting to the provenance of his artwork is mounted on the reverse: “The plans and drawings were secreted between the soles of his shoes and brought out of the Confederacy.” 

This hand annotated sketch depicts the notorious Andersonville Prison Camp operated by the Confederate Army during the Civil War. This map was drawn by R. K. Sneden who was a prisoner of war at the Andersonville Prison during 1864. Before his capture, Sneden served as a map maker on the staff of the 40th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The map, margins and the reverse feature hand done details by the artist, adding superior detail and color.  We have not been able to find another known example!

NEW YORK FORTIETH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Fortieth Infantry.-Cols., Edward J. Riley, Thomas W. Eagan, Madison M. Cannon; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas W. Eagan, Nelson A. Gesner, P. Allen Lindsay, Augustus J. Warner, Madison M. Cannon, Thomas Crawford; Majs., Richard T. Halstead; Albert S. Ingalls, P. Allen Lindsay, Augustus J. Warner, Emmons F. Fletcher, Madison M. Cannon, Thomas Crawford, Augustus W. Keene.

The 40th, the "Mozart Regiment," recruited in New York city, received four Massachusetts companies into its organization and went into camp at Yonkers, where it was mustered into the U. S. service June 14 to 27, 1861, for three years.

On July 4 it left the state for Washington, numbering 1,000 members and after a short encampment at Washington, was ordered to Alexandria, where during the summer it was engaged in the construction of Fort Ward and in guard duty along the Orange & Alexandria railroad.

It was assigned on Aug. 4, to Howard's brigade, Potomac division, but was later attached to Sedgwick's brigade, Heintzelman's division, and passed the winter near Alexandria.  In March, 1862, with the 2nd brigade, 3d division, 3d corps, Army of the Potomac, it embarked for Yorktown and was there engaged in the duties of the siege.

The regiment was closely engaged at Williamsburg and during that month the brigade was assigned to the 1st division, 3d corps, with which it participated in the battle of Fair Oaks, where the 40th lost 24 in killed or mortally wounded out of five companies engaged.

The regiment fought through the Seven Days' battles with a loss of 100 killed, wounded and missing and rested for a few weeks at Harrison's landing before entering upon the campaign in Virginia under Gen. Pope.  At the second Bull Run 244 members of the regiment were engaged and 86 were reported among the lost.

At Chantilly the total loss was 61, but the gallant conduct of the 40th and the 1st saved the day, and the regiment received the highest official praise.  At Fredericksburg the total loss was 123.  The regiment shared in the "Mud March" and then gathered its scattered heroes together to winter at Falmouth.

The recruits for the 87th N. Y. had been added to the 40th in Sept., 1862, and after the battle of Chancellorsville, in which the loss was again severe, the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of five companies.

On May 30, 1863, the three years men of the 37th and 38th N. Y. were assigned to the 40th, as were members of the 55th and 101st.  As part of the 3d brigade, 1st division, 3d corps, Army of the Potomac, from May, 1863, the regiment proceeded from Chancellorsville to Gettysburg, where it again distinguished itself for bravery with a loss of 150 killed, wounded or missing.

It was active at Kelly's ford and in the Mine Run campaign, after which winter quarters were established near Brandy Station, where in December, the major portion of the members of the regiment reenlisted.  Many new recruits were also received during the winter, and at the opening of the Wilderness campaign in the spring of 1864 the regiment took the field with greatly replenished ranks.

In March of that year it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 2nd corps; was active at the Wilderness with the loss of 213 killed, wounded and missing; and fought in the engagements at Spottsylvania, the Po river, the North Anna, Totopotomoy and Cold Harbor.

In July, 1864, the original members not reenlisted were mustered out at New York city and the regiment was consolidated into six companies, which soon received additional reinforcement by the addition of the veterans of the 74th N. Y.  The veteran regiment served before Petersburg until the fall of the city, being engaged at the Weldon railroad, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Poplar Spring Church, Boydton Road, the Hicksford raid, Hatcher's run, Fort Stedman, White Oak ridge, in the final assault on Petersburg, April 2, 1865, and the pursuit of Lee to Appomattox.

The regiment was mustered out at Washington, June 27, 1865, having gallantly acquitted itself through four years of almost constant fighting, and having well earned its right to be called a "Fighting Regiment" through the loss of more men killed and wounded than any other New York regiment save one-the 68th.

Only through the addition of troop after troop of veterans was it able to preserve its organization, but its reputation for courage made assignment to its ranks a privilege.  The total death loss of the command during its term of service was 238 killed or died of wounds and 172 from accident, imprisonment or disease.

Inventory Number: IDE 222 / SOLD