In collaboration with Robert Grandchamp, the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum has acquired an amazing framed, tinted albumen photograph of bugler William Lewis, who was killed in action during the American Civil War. He was a member of Battery G, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery.

Bugler Lewis was mortally wounded 19 October 1864 at the Battle of Cedar Creek saving a gun of Battery G from being captured. He died two days later and is buried at Winchester National Cemetery.

At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we have the wool undershirt worn by East Greenwich-native Sergeant George Byron Bennett (of the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry) in the last year of the American Civil War. It’s in amazing condition, and wear and staining reveals a lot about the soldier, his habits, and his day-to-day life.

Visible on the shirt are sweat, dirt, and urine stains. You can see that the shirt was worn tucked in (and that he wiped his hands on his stomach…). The urine stains appear at the bottom-center where it would be tucked in over his crotch.