http://www.ebay.com/itm/1862-Confederate-Ambrotype-Pvt-A-H-Byars-1st-Virginia-Cavalry-Regiment-CSA-/152053333871

Original vintage sixth-plate size ambrotype taken April 24, 1862 by an unidentified Virginia photographer. This is a studio portrait of Private A.H. (Arthur Henderson) Byars (1835-1926). Byars, whose nickname was "Old Dad," enlisted at Abingdon, Virginia on March 15, 1862. The ambrotype has the following pencil inscription in the case, behind the image (see scan) and reads as follows: "Presented to L.A. McSpadden by A.H. Byars April 24, 1862." From the time of his enlistment, Private Byars served faithfully and steadily throughout the war through at least the final muster roll of August 1864. The 1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized at Winchester in July 1861. It participated in more than 200 engagements of various types, including the Seven Days' Battles and Stuart's ride around McClellan. The regiment was active at Second Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Kelly's Ford, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church and Cold Harbor. It was involved in General Jubal Early's operations in the Shenandoah Valley, the defense of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign. Private Byars was present for duty during all of the above engagements. The 1st Virginia Cavalry broke through the Federal lines at Appomattox and later disbanded. Only 1 man from the regiment was present at the surrender. Some of the more prominent field officers of the 1st Virginia Cavalry included William E. "Grumble" Jones, Fitzhugh Lee and J.E.B. Stuart. Private A.H. Byars survived the war and married in 1866. He is shown as a merchant in Abingdon in the 1870 census. Byars died February 7, 1926 and is buried in Old Glade Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia. This ambrotype of Byars shows him in uniform and holding a small revolver (Colt Pocket Model?). He wears a belt with a harness type buckle and what appears to be a cap box is visible at his waist, just below the barrel of the revolver. The image is housed in a case that is split at the spine. The tones and contrast are Excellent and the identification is ironclad.

Photo by Carolyn Ryburn