"Long live those musical beings, the only objection I have to whom is the sad repetition of their "calls." But time, my twenty months, will obliterate all such impressions. Henry Huss, one of them, has drawn a faithful picture..."
"High Private Manton", aka Pvt. J. Montgomery Bailey, Company C
The Artwork of Henry Huss
Seventeenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Every once in a while a great opportunity makes itself available to the students of the Seventeenth. Just such an opportunity arose in December of 1999 when I heard from Gayle Sullivan. Gayle is a descendant of Henry Huss, drummer of Company D, 17th CVI.
In December I had just finished uploading the "Christmas at Folly Island" article by "High Private Manton", when I received an e-mail from Gayle inquiring about the 17th. In what was surely one of the more unusual "coincidences" I have experienced, it turned out that Gayle was in possession of the sketchbook of Henry Huss. Henry is mentioned in the article that I had just uploaded, in particular a sketch that he drew of the drummers quarters at Folly Island. I'm not sure who was more excited when it was found that the sketch mentioned in the 1863 article was in the sketchbook, Gayle or myself.
Gayle was generous enough to make copies of the sketches and to grant permission for them to be posted on the 17th CVI web site for all to see. The limitations of the Internet do not do them justice!
I'd like to thank Gayle for making these drawings available to me. It is rare when original soldier art remains in the hands of family...and rarer still when it is shared! Hopefully Gayle will soon finish with transcribing Henry's letters home, which will add another dimension to the history of the Seventeenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry!