About This Image

Tintype and letter beautifully framed in dark wood. The objects are framed so that both sides of the letter and photograph are visible. Both the photograph and the letter are in very good condition.

The letter is dated April 14th, 1865. The author and subject of the photograph is Corporal Manassa Henry ;"G" Co. 199th Pa Infantry at Richmond, Va.

The hand-written letter contains two separate messages. The main letter is written to Corporal M. Henry's girlfriend, Mary, in which he promises to marry her when he returns from the war. There is also a separate paragraph that is addressed to Corporal Henry's "friend Sally," and it is to her that he sends his likeness in the form of a tintype. One supposes that Mary and Sally are related and would have been living under the same roof, which explains why the single letter contains two different messages.

Transcript of letter available.