These portraits of Civil War soldiers are from the Wisconsin 19th Infantry, Company A. The original images were about the size of your thumbnail and with the gold frame, it was about the size of a small postage stamp. The photos were black and white. Recent scientific advances have now allowed these photos to be colorized and restored with a program called ChatGPT.
One thing to note is that the program does not know the actual color of the soldier’s eyes, so it just makes a guess. Many of the original photos were heavily scratched and discolored. However the ChatGPT program does a wonderful job of correcting this issue too.
There are some soldiers who have more than one photo. They would have had their picture taken at different times, or in different outfits, or hats.
Placing only one Civil War soldier’s photograph on each page allows every individual to be honored with the dignity and attention they deserve. Each soldier represents a unique life, story, and sacrifice. A single photograph per page prevents visual crowding, encourages reflection, and invites the viewer to pause and connect with that person as an individual rather than as part of a group. This approach also improves clarity and preserves the historical and emotional impact of each image, reinforcing that these were real people whose lives mattered.
For more extensive information on these 19th Infantry, CompanyA, soldiers, you may find it here, on the Sauk County Historical Society Web site:
Why Colorize Black and White Photos?
1. Colorization doesn’t replace the original it adds another lens through which to view it.
A black-and-white photo remains a primary historical artifact. Colorization creates a second version, not a new original. It’s no different from:
• printing a photo at a different size
• increasing contrast for clarity
• repairing scratches or fading
All of those change how we experience the image, not what the original is.
2. Black and white is already an abstraction
We sometimes forget this: the past was not black and white. Early photography removed color because of technical limits, not because people saw the world that way. Colorization is actually an attempt to undo a technological limitation, not rewrite history. In that sense, black-and-white is the stylization; color is closer to lived reality.
3. It can increase historical understanding
When done carefully (period-accurate clothing dyes, military uniforms, building materials, skin tones, etc.), colorization can reveal things that are hard to notice in grayscale:
• social class (fabric quality, wear, dye types)
• occupations and tools
• military units
• season and environment
For local history projects like churches, farms, or families, this often makes details immediately legible to modern viewers.
4. It helps new audiences connect emotionally
Many people especially younger generations subconsciously read black-and-white as “distant” or “abstract.”
Color:
• makes faces feel human and contemporary
• helps viewers relate to individuals as real people, not symbols
• increases interest in local and family history
A simple way to explain it to purists
“The black-and-white photo is the artifact. The color version is a conversation with it not a replacement. One preserves the past; the other helps us feel it.”
Or: “Colorization doesn’t change history. It changes how we approach it.”
Corporal JamesApker
Residence when enlisted: Wonewoc, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 23. Veteran, Corporal Mustered Out: May 15, 1865
Private Isaac N. Bingham
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 17. Veteran Prisoner October 27, 1864, Fair Oaks Battle. Mustered Out: May 20, 1865
Sergt. Ezra A. Burton
Residence when enlisted: Wisconsin. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Mustered Out: Aug. 9, 1865.
2nd Lieutenant Cassius M. Bush
Residence when enlisted: WI. Enlisted: March 31, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: June 20, 1865
First Sergeant/1st Lt. Lewis H. Cohoon
Residence when enlisted: Washington Twp. WI. Enlisted: Feb. 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 21. Veteran Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
James C. Castle
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 29. Veteran Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Corporal James C. Castle
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 29. Veteran Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Castle?
No information available
Corporal Julius Castle
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 19. Veteran Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Sergeant CharlesA. Chandler
Transferred Captain Company A, Independent battery, June 12, and mustered out August 9, 1865.
Residence when enlisted: Madison, WI Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Killed: August 7, 1864 at Petersburg, VA
Charles O. Clark
Residence when enlisted: Cato, Wisconsin. Enlisted: February 13, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 19. From Co. K . Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Sergeant Lewis H. Cohoon
Residence when enlisted: Washington Township, Sauk Co. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 21. Wounded: July 13, 1864. First Lieutenant: June 21, 1865. Mustered out: August 9, 1865
George W. Cooper
Residence when enlisted: Woodland Township, Sauk Co. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Prisoner: October 27, 1864, at Fair Oaks. Mustered out: July 31, 1865
James Curtis
Residence when enlisted: LaValle, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran Mustered out: August 23, 1865
Private Clarence A. Danforth
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: January 7, 1862 .Age at Enlistment: 18. Wounded: Petersburg. Mustered out: April 29, 1865, Term Expired
Private Charles Day
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Wounded: May 16, 1864, right leg amputated. Died: June 16, 1864 of wounds
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 20. Veteran Wounded: October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks. Discharged: February 13, 1865, Disability
Private Osgood Dwinnell
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran Prisoner: October 27, October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: June 21, 1865
Captain Alexander P. Ellenwood
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: Dec. 19, 1861. Age at enlistment: 21. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Peter Emser
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI Enlisted: March 4
1862 Age at Enlistment: 35. Veteran Prisoner: October 27, October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: June 21, 1865
Christopher Evers
Residence when enlisted: Westfield Twp, Sauk Co. WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
James Fosdick
Residence when enlisted: Westfield Twp, Sauk Co. WI Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Prisoner: October 27, 18.64, Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: May 11, 1865
Sargent John H. Fosnot
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 20. Veteran, Corporal, Sargent
Wounded: May 16, 1864. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Joseph C. Fosnot
Residence when enlisted: Freedom, WI. Enlisted: January 28, 1862. Wounded: May 16, 1864. Discharged: May 20, 1865 from wounds
Henry Dodge Fowler
Residence when enlisted: Burns, WI. Enlisted: December 30, 1863. Age at Enlistment: 22. From Company E Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Henry Dodge Fowler ? Or John?
Residence when enlisted: Burns, WI. Enlisted: December 30, 1863. Age at Enlistment: 22. From Company E Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Corporal Cyrus Gardner
Residence when enlisted: Sheboygan Falls, WI. Enlisted: February 13, 1862. From Company K Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Prisoner: October 27, 1864, Fair Oaks.
Mustered Out: May 11, 1865
Patrick Garrigan
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 28. Veteran. Prisoner: October 27, 1865 at Fair Oaks, VA. Mustered Out: June 21, 1865
Residence when enlisted: Portsmouth. Enlisted: December 8, 1862. From Company E; Transferred to 2nd US Volunteers March 1, 1865
Corporal Henry D. Grote
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Twp., WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 23. Veteran Wounded: October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Private Michael Haefer (Hafer)
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Twp., WI. Enlisted: Wisconsin. In 1861. Mustered Out: 1865
Private Ephraim M. Haines
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: March 31, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 15. Veteran at Petersburg. Died: July 5, 1864, Portsmouth, VA, of wounds received
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862.. Age at Enlistment: 20. Veteran.
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Private William D. Hobby
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: January 20, 1862. Died: July 31, 1863, Yorktown, VA of disease
Thomas Jefferson Holton
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 9, 1864. Age at Enlistment: 22. Mustered
Out: August 9, 1865
Residence when enlisted: Woodland Twp., Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Charles Holt
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
William Horsch
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Died: July 29, 1864 at Hampton General Hospital of disease
Sidney A. Howard
Residence when enlisted: LaValle, Sauk County, WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Veteran Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Clark H. Kennedy
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 21. Veteran.
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Residence when enlisted: Madison, WI. Enlisted: November 28, 1862. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Byron B. Lee
Residence when enlisted: Sparta, WI. Enlisted: December 16, 1863. Age at Enlistment: 38. Veteran. Corporal Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Private Edward L. Leonard
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: March 31, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 19. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Private John or Jesse B. “Jack” Mallow
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: January 10, 1862. Wounded: June 22, 1864
Prisoner: October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: April 29, 1865
William Mallow
Residence when enlisted: Wonewoc, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
(Possibly) Cpl. Jesse M. Mallow
Residence when enlisted: Wonewoc, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Corporal Eleazer Millard
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Township, Sauk County, WI
Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 20. Veteran
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Born: January 26, 1842. Died: October 12, 1862 of Disease in Norfolk, VA
Private George J. Paddock
Residence when enlisted: Sauk County, WI. Enlisted: Feb. 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 20. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
George Mead
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: January 13, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 25. Discharged: September 7, 1862, Disability
Corporal Eleazer Millard
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Township, Sauk County, WI
Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 20. Veteran
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Private George Josiah Paddock
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk County, WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 19. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Srgt. Ferris B. Palmer
Residence when enlisted: LaValle, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 22. Veteran. Killed in Action: October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks, VA
Edger L. Palmer
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Father of Frank Pettis on the next page.
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: January 6, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 46. Mustered Out: February 22, 1865, Term expired
Frank Pettis Drummer Boy 12 years old here.
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 12. Veteran, Drummer
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Frank Pettis Drummer Boy
About 14 years old here
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 12. Veteran, Drummer
Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Walter O. Pietzsch
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: January 26, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: June 23, 1865
Walter O. Pietzsch
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: January 26, 1862. Veteran. Mustered Out: June 23, 1865
Benjamin S. Pitts
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: March 31, 1862. Veteran. Missing in Action: May 16, 1864 at Drury’s Bluff, VA
Newman W. Pitts
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Veteran. Wounded: May 18, 1864.
Prisoner: October 27, 1864, Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia. Died: January 16, 1865, at Salisbury, N.C.
Corporal Alva Rathbun
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk County, WI.
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Died: November 5, 1864 in Hampton, VA Hospital from wounds received at Fair Oaks
Private William T. Reynolds
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Township, Sauk County, WI
Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran. Wounded: May 16, 1864
Mustered Out: Absent sick when regiment was M.O.
Residence when enlisted: Norfolk, VA. Enlisted: November 27, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 17. Mustered Out: August 9, 1875.
Residence when enlisted: Marston, WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Veteran Wounded: October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks VA
Died: March 20, 1865, Annapolis, MD
Private Sylvester Searles
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, WI. Enlisted: January 7, 1862. Veteran. Killed: June 29, 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Private Sylvester Searles
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, WI. Enlisted: January 7, 1862. Veteran. Killed: June 29, 1864 at Petersburg, VA .
Charles F. Shelden
Residence when enlisted: Westfield Twp, WI. Enlisted: January 17, 1862. Age at Enlistment:21. Mustered Out: April 29, 1865, Term expired.
Dwelton M. Shelden
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 15, 1862. Mustered Out: April 29, 1865, Term expired
Private William Steese
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: February 14, 1862. Discharged: February 18, 1863. Disability.
John H. Stokes
Residence when enlisted: Chicago, IL. Enlisted: September 27, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 14. Mustered Out: June 23, 1865.
John H. Stokes
Residence when enlisted: Chicago, IL. Enlisted: September 27, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 14. Mustered Out: June 23, 1865.
John H. Stokes
Residence when enlisted: Chicago, IL. Enlisted: September 27, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 14. Mustered Out: June 23, 1865. John is depicted here as a more mature soldier, probably taken around 1865.
Charles H. Stone
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: January 1, 1862. Discharged: January 7, 1864, Disability.
Lieutenant Colonel Rollin M. Strong
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, WI. Enlisted: Dec. 19, 1861. Age at Enlistment: 31. Mustered Out: April 11, 1865.
James H. Stull
Residence when enlisted: New Buffalo. Enlisted: December 16, 1863. Age at Enlistment: 28 Wounded: May 16, 1864 at Ft. Darling Discharged: February 20, 1865 for wounds
Artemus G. Swetland
(I.D. not positive)
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Township, Sauk Co. WI.
Enlisted: February 8, 1864. Age at enlistment: 31. Musician.
Mustered Out: May 19, 1865.
Private Seth Swetland
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Township, Sauk Co., WI.
Enlisted: January 10, 1863. Discharged: July 21, 1863, Disability
William F. Swetland
Residence when enlisted: Winfield Township, WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862.
First Lt. HenryA. Tator
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: 19 Dec. 1861. Discharged: 29 April 1865.
John Thorn
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: February 27, 1862. Wounded: May 16, 1864. Mustered Out: April 29, 1865 Term expired
Richard Thorn
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 19. Veteran. Wounded: October 27, 1864 at Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Capt. Henry A. Tator
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Enlisted: December 19, 1861. Age at Enlistment: 35. Discharged: April 29, 1865.
Albert C. Tuttle
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: December 14, 1863. Wounded: May 16, 1884 at Fort Darling
Discharged: January 30, 1865 for disability.
Sergt. Robert T. Warner
Residence when enlisted: Baraboo, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: December 30, 1861. Age at Enlistment: 20. Mustered Out: April 29, 1864 Term Expired
Private John Werren (Werron)
Residence when enlisted: Reeds burg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: March 4, 1862. Age at Enlistment: 43. Veteran Mustered Out: August 9, 1865
Private Franklin S. Winchester
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: February 22, 1862. Veteran Prisoner: October 27, 1864, Fair Oaks. Mustered Out: May 13, 1865
Residence when enlisted: Reedsburg, Sauk Co., WI. Enlisted: December 19, 1861. Discharged: January 21, 1864, Disability
These Thumbnail Photos that were taken of soldiers during the Civil War, were the size above, compared to the image on a penny.