A half-length oval-shaped studio portrait of Mrs. Marie Ockershauser , wife of Frederick Ockershauser of the 69th Ohio Infantry Regiment, with her right hand at her waist. Her hair is parted in the center, with a beaded headband sitting high on her head. Ockershauser is wearing a dark top with small white fringe at the collar and several layers of ruffles at the cuff, and is wearing a plaid skirt. Her cheeks have been tinted pink. The image is inside a gilt setting, accompanied by a carrying case with a beaded image of a lyre on one side. This tintype of Marie Ockershauser (b. 1830) belonged to Friedrich (Frederick) Ockershauser (1826-1864), a German American Union soldier. He and his wife Marie (b. 1830) settled in Woods Station, Butler County, Ohio. In the spring of 1864, Ockershauser joined Co. B. of the 69th Regiment of Ohio Infantry. With his regiment, he fought in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, including the demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge (May 8-11), the battle of Resaca (May 14), the advance on Dallas (May 18-25), operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills (May 25 -June 5); operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain (June 10 - July 2), Pine Hill (June 11-14), Lost Mountain (June 15-17), the assault on Kennesaw (June 27), Ruff's Station (July 4); Chattahoochie River (July 5-17), Peach Tree Creek (July 19-20), and the siege of Atlanta (July 22-Aug. 25). Ockershauser was killed in the battle of Jonesboro on Sept. 1, 1864. This was the image that he took with him to the front & was returned to his widow upon his death. Last letter he wrote to his wife: 20 May 1864, 4 miles from Kingston, 55 mil. E. side Atlanta: "The war life is horrible everywhere death, everywhere death and devasatation. In the five weeks I have seen more misery and [?} than in my entire lifetime...Good Maria, how happy I will be when I can see you again and how I will cry for joy. It will be the most beautiful day of my life." HM 74571-74564. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Women Women--Ohio--Portraits Military spouses United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Participation, German American--Sources United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 Tintype (prints) (aat)
Source
Letters of Friedrich Ockershauser, 1860-1864 , (bulk 1864, Apr. 21-Aug. 24) United States Civil War, Huntington Digital Library
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