Alabama

Albd1. No ID. Front Street, Mobile. VG. $375

Albd2. No ID. Government Street, Mobile. G+. $250

Albd3. Rare collection of 10 Boudoir Cards (5" x 8") related to
Company I, 12th Infantry, known as Geronimo's Apaches, a group of prisoners
provided military training, camped at Frascate, Mobile, Alabama in March of
1892. In addition, some of the images have to do with US Naval operations off
the coast of Alabama. The Boudoir Cards all came together and are being offered
here as one lot. Here is what is included: Image of Lieut. W.W. Wotherspoon,
Comd'g Company I, 12th Infantry USA. On the back of this card is the above plus
"Indian company from Mount Vernon Barracks Alabama." Next image is "Sergeant of
Company I. 12th US Infantry." The third image is "Company I. 12th Infantry
(Indians) Camped at Frascate, Mobile, Ala. March 14th, 1892." Lieutenanct
Wotherspoon, Comd'g. Lieutenant Baker." Next image is "Captain Slaman?,
Lieutenant Wyckoff and Bertholf-Taking a Sight." Next is a horizontal Boudoir
Card Image of identified officers with ""From Mr. Chalkins' negative" on verso.
Next is an image of two naval men fencing with "Exercise!" on verso. Then an
image of "River Steamboat, Mobile, Ala." The next image of a group of civilians
on deck is the only one with the backmark of A. Sandoz, Photographer, Mobile,
Ala. The next image of a house is titled "Residence of Major Crawford, Mobile"
on verso. Last image is of a group of naval men on board without ID.
Here is a short biography of William Wallace Wotherspoon:
William Wallace Wotherspoon was born in Washington, D.C., on 16 November 1850;
was educated in private schools; served aboard ship as a mate in the United
States Navy, 1870-1873; was commissioned a second lieutenant and assigned to the
12th Infantry, October 1873; served in the West during the Indian wars as a
troop officer and quartermaster, 1874-1881; served with the 12th in northern New
York, 1881-1887; married Mary C. Adams, 1887; was on sick leave 1888-1889;
superintended the enlargement of the Soldiers' Home in Washington, 1889-1890;
served at Fort Sully and at Mount Vernon Barracks, where he trained a company of
Apache prisoners, 1890-1894; was promoted to captain, 1893; was aide to General
Oliver O. Howard, commander of the Department of the East, 1894; was professor
of military science and tactics at Rhode Island College, 1894-1898; was on
recruiting duty at Fort McPherson and organized the 3d Battalion, 12th Infantry,
1898; served in the Philippines against insurgents and as collector of customs
at Iloilo, 1899-1901; was promoted to major and transferred to the 30th
Infantry, 1901; commanded the 2d Battalion, 6th Infantry, at Fort Leavenworth
and then taught at the General Staff College, 1902-1904; was promoted to
lieutenant colonel and assigned to the 14th Infantry, 1904; was transferred to
the 19th Infantry and graduated from the Army War College, 1905; was director of
the Army War College, 1904-1906; was chief of staff of the Army of Cuban
Pacification, 1906-1907; was acting president of the Army War College and chief
of the Third Division, General Staff, 1907; was promoted to brigadier general,
October 1907; was president of the Army War College, 1907-1909 and 1910-1912,
and largely instrumental in transforming it from an adjunct of the General Staff
to an autonomous educational institution; was assistant to the chief of staff,
1901-1910 and 1912-1914; was promoted to major general, May 1912, serving as
commander of the Department of the Gulf until September; was chief of staff of
the United States Army 21 April-15 November 1914; called attention to shortages
of officers and noncommissioned officers for Army missions, emphasized the need
to reevaluate coast defenses to meet heavier-gunned battleships, saw
establishment of an aviation section in the Signal Corps and the completion of
the Panama Canal; retired from active service, November 1914; served as
superintendent of public works for the state of New York, 1915-1920; died in
Washington, D.C., on 21 October 1921.
A rare and interesting group of Southern military-related, Native-American
related Images. G-VG-. $750
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