Indian recruits being sworn in for Civil War duty

The man with the hat is Thomas Bigford (1815-90), of Taycheedah, Wisconsin, a farmer who served as a local recruiting officer during the war. Identified by his grandson, Roger C. Bigford of Oshkosh. According to Bigford the recruit on right may be Adam Scherf of Stockbridge, who was said to have served in the same regiment with Thomas Bigford's son, Royal. This cannot be confirmed. Royal Bigford was a private in the 1st Battery, Light Artillery, but Scherf is not listed.


Image of Indian Recruits
From the copy owned by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Visual Archives: Album 13.62