Figure 1.--Here we have two Civil War drummer boy paintings. They appear to be contemporary water color portrait on paste board. Thus this is an important color contribution to our archive of drummer boy portraits as well as a camp scene background. Unfortunately we are not sure of the boy's name. The back of one portrait is signed "Stengel". We are not sure, however, if this is the boy's name or the artist. Click on the image for an enlargement.

Here we have two Civil War drummer boy paintings. They appear to be contemporary water color portrait on paste board. Thus this is an important color contribution to our archive of drummer boy portraits as well as a camp scene background. Unfortunately we are not sure of the boy's name. The back of one portrait is signed "Stengel". We are not sure, however, if this is the boy's name or the artist. Based on the depiction and the boy's size, we would guess that he was about 14-15 years old. The portraits were found in northern Ohio, so it is likely that the boy was wih an Ohio regiment. The portraits were done for oval frames. The drummer boy is accompanied in one of the portraits with an adult soldier. We also do not know who he was. There is no indication that he is an officer, but seems like a fellow enlistedman. Contemporary painted portraits of Civil War drummer boys are very rare. These portraits were done by a competent pinter. They would have been more expensive that a photographic portrait. These boys did not come from wealthy families. Many wealthy adults bought their way out of the draft and certainly did not send their children into the War. Thus such paintings which would have been expensive are rare. And here we have two portraits. We wonder who paid for them. Perhaps they were done just after the war when he returned home, but the camp scene background seems to suggest that they were done during the War. They not only are wonderful images of a Civil War War drummer boy, but provide a detailed color record of his drum and uniform.

Figure 2.--Here is the second portrait. It seems to be the same boy, but we hve no idea who the soldier pictured with him may be. Click on the image for an enlargement.