Soldiers of the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry pose with their slaves. Many slaveholders took “body servants” with them to war. These slaves cooked, washed, and cleaned for the white soldiers. In 1861, James H. Langhorne reported to his sister: “Peter … is charmed with being with me & ‘being a soldier.’ I gave him my old uniform overcoat & he says he is going to have his picture taken … to send to the servants.” Do you think Peter was “puttin’ on ol’ massa” or just glad to be free of plantation labor? Collection of Paul Beeder.

READING THE IMAGE: What can we glean from this image about a Confederate soldier’s life in the military?

CONNECTIONS: This daguerreotype likely was not taken for any purpose other than to capture the camaraderie of four southern cavalrymen, yet the inclusion of the two slaves speaks volumes. What are the possible ramifications of slaveholders bringing “body servants” to war?