RARE – Shirt of a soldier from the 154th NY captured at Gettysburg - died in prison as a POW

This homespun cotton waist shirt was made by Annette Sample for her husband Eugene  Sample of the154th New York Infantry, who was captured on July1st during the Battle of Gettysburg.

The shirt was constructed in the classic Civil War style, utilizing the typical square cut pattern with minimal fit tailoring. It bears the embroidered initials “E S” (Eugene Sample) and retains the pinned-on period ink notation: “Made by Annette Pocher for husband Gene 154th NY, a prisoner Richmond 1864, Returned!”. Gene will die at the prison on Feb. 6, 1864.

Private Sample was captured at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, and taken prisoner. The regiment had severe losses at Gettysburg, where it was heavily engaged in the battle of the first day, and in the gallant defense of Cemetery Hill the second day, losing 6 killed, 21 wounded and 173 missing.

Sample was one of 167 members of the 154th NY to be taken prisoner at the Battle of Gettysburg. The 154th was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 11th Corps. Their position through the town resulted in massive envelopment and forced surrenders.

Among the captured and missing from the 154th was Sergeant Amos Humiston, who was mortally wounded on July 1. Found clutching a photograph of his children, his unidentified body sparked a nationwide search to reunite his family, turning him into a famous symbol of the war's personal side.

Eugene Sample and Annette A. Griswald, both of Randolf, New York, were married on July 30, 1860, just over two years prior to Eugenes’s September 25, 1862, enlistment as a Private of Co. H, 154th New York Infantry.

As per the notated “Returned!”, the shirt was either sent to Private Sample by his wife Annette and was returned for failure to deliver or was returned to Annette after his death in the Richmond prison. The shirt remains in very good condition, so he either wore it for a very short time, or he was already dead and the shirt (package) was returned. It comes in the glass display case pictured.