CDV of a 16th Connecticut Infantry Sergeant named Austin David Thompson. The subject is identified on back in pencil as follows: “Austin Thompson 16th Conn Vol.” The image bears the backmark of “Photographed by William A. Terry, Bristol, Conn.”

The Connecticut Historical Society has a collection featuring many of Thompson’s Civil War letters including one describing the battle of Antietam, another mentioning the charge of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry (Colored) at Fort Wagner, and one describing the execution of two substitutes for desertion.

Thompson was living in Bristol, Connecticut, when he enlisted on August 11, 1862, as a Private. On August 24 of that same year, he mustered into “K” Co. CT 16th Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal on April 2, 1863, and promoted to Sergeant on February 24, 1864. He was captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, on April 20, 1864, and made a prisoner of war. He was discharged on June 8, 1865.

The Connecticut 16th Infantry saw action at, amongst others, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Edenton Road, Providence Church Road, and Plymouth. The 16th had 436 men killed or captured at Plymouth.