1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery manning guns in Fort Richardson, late 1861 (b/w photo)

Union artillerymen posing with 24-pounder guns in Fort Richardson near Arlington, Virginia, late 1861; their pieces are mounted alternately on garrison carriages and front-pintle barbette carriages. Officially, these men were still listed as the 4th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment, not being re-constituted as the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery until January 2, 1862; their regimental commander, Col. Robert O. Tyler, can be seen cradling his sword on his forearm at the left-hand side of this picture. This photograph was issued by Mathew Brady as part of his “Incidents of the War” series of albumen prints; note the American flag flying in the distance, only faintly visible on a misty overcast day. Cleaned by BiM