Daguerreotype

            James Garrabrant, a member of Co. D., 13th New Jersey regiment while fighting, at a battle on the Rappahannock, saw a daguerreotype fall from the pocket of a dead rebel. Impelled by curiosity, he picked it up and placed it in the breast pocket of his blouse. Soon he was struck by a bullet and fell. His brother, who was near him, picked him up, supposing him to be killed. Upon examination, the ball was found to have pierced his clothing, gone through the front of the daguerreotype, shivered the glass, and indented deeply the metal plate upon which the likeness was, which, however, it failed to penetrate, thus saying the young man's life, as it lay right over his heart. The wooden back of the picture was shivered to splinters by the concussion. The bullet was shown us with the picture, fitting neatly into the indentation of the plate.

            There can be no doubt that the force of the ball was destroyed by the gradual yielding of the soft copper plate. Had the material been more rigid, the ball would probably have gone through. The likeness is that of a young and not unattractive looking female; and it may well be imagined that our gallant soldier prizes the “counterfeit presentment" of the southern damsel as the saviour of his life.

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Page updated 08/12/2004.