Youth in Arms: William D. Hamilton at Fifteen

Description

In the stillness of this photograph stands William Duncan Hamilton, a young soldier from Garnett, Kansas, who at 15 years old joined the ranks of the 11th Kansas Cavalry, Company F, during the American Civil War. Firmly in his grasp is the Lefaucheux Model 1854 pinfire revolver, an officially issued firearm of the Union Army, reflective of the standard armament provided to cavalrymen of the period. Despite his youth, Hamilton's service contributed to the complex tapestry of war—a narrative captured in the steadfast look of a boy in a man's conflict. This image, alongside later family portraits, provides a poignant bookend to a life that extended into the 20th century, ending in 1925. William's survival to see peace, family growth, and the evolution of a nation stands as a silent testament to the resilience of those who served.