The caption across the top of this mystery photo which was taken in front of the commodious Progress Mills building reads:  "War Time Scene in Buffalo, W. Va. 7th W. Va. Reg. of the U. S. Volunteers."  This photo appears in John M. Priest's book "Antietam:  The Soldiers' Battle" at p. 160 and is identified as the 7th West Virginia Regiment.  However, Buffalo was outside the 7th West Virginia' recruiting area, and there is no known account of the regiment, or any portion of it, performing any duty in Buffalo.  Until such evidence surfaces, the writer's opinion is that the regiment in the photo is misidentified as the 7th W. Va. Infantry.  Any help or information that would solve this puzzle is welcome.  Back

Photograph courtesy of William Wintz, Terry Lowry and U. S. Army Military History Institute