Corporal Cole's Mandolin by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Corporal Cole's Mandolin... w16.00" x h8.00" x d1.75", Oil on wood, 2008.
Titled changed to Pat Murphy og the Irish Brigade and added to Enchanting Ireland Collection.

This original oil painting by American Artist, Bernie Rosage Jr. is available for purchase... Email Bernie about purchasing details HERE... please include the paintings title in the subject line.

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This painting, on wood, is box-framed and ready to hang.

All my paintings are signed originals using artist grade oils and archival surfaces.

Here I am portraying an 1860's period artist at a Civil War reenactment at Fort Branch near Hamilton, NC. I was working on this very painting at that event.

In Memory of the Irish Volunteer

"In Memory of the Irish Volunteer... Wearing of the Green"... 8x10" Oil on Panel, alla prima from life, 1-2008.
SOLD... Thanks Robert G.!

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Close up...



This painting is dedicated to the members of the famed Irish Brigade who fought so gallantly for the Union during the American Civil War. In December 1862, after many hard months of hard fighting the regiments of the Irish Brigade turned in their ragged regimental flags... they were to be replaced at a ceremony set for December 13, 1862 but the brigade was called into action for the Battle of Fredericksburg and the tragic assault on Marye's Heights that day. The New York regiments went into battle that day without their green flags. In their stead, General Meagher and his staff gave a sprig of boxwood to every man to wear in his hat to identify them as members of the Irish Brigade. The 28th Massachusetts, the only regiment carrying a green flag that day, was placed in the center of the brigade as it made the assault. The results of the attack were devastating; the Irish Brigade that had gone into battle 1200 men strong, came out with only 263 standing between its five regiments. Sprigs of boxwood (the wearing of the green) were a common adornment on their hats from that time on.

I set up this still life in my studio paying special attention to the historical accuracy of the subject. The federal kepi is adorned with a sprig of boxwood and red trefoil corp badge which was distributed to the Union army just before the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863. The Red Trefoil or Club denoted the Second Division, Second Army Corps which the Irish Brigade was assigned to for most of its service to the preservation of this country.

50 5100 7/9/155

Hardtack and Coffee

"Hardtack and Coffee"... 6x8" Oil on panel, alla prima from life, 11-2007.

SOLD... Thanks Randy B.!

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Hardtack, salt pork, and coffee were the staple rations for the American soldier... both Union and Confederate... during the Civil War. In fact, hard crackers have been issued as rations in every American conflict. During the American Civil War a soldier was rationed ten of these hard crackers per day... or at least was supposed to be. The official name for the cracker was "hardtack" but it had numerous nicknames like, "nail-benders", "worm-castles", and "teeth-dullers". Often they were issued molded and infested with worms and weevils. The most common way soldiers prepared them to eat was to boil them in a tin cup of coffee... this served two purposes... #1)... it softened them up... and #2)... it killed whatever was living in them. The worms would float to the top of the coffee and could easily be skimmed away. I set up this small still life on an old wooden table and painted it from life while at a Civil War Reenactment last weekend. The reenactment was held at Fort Branch near Hamilton, North Carolina. Reenacting is a hobby of mine and I portray an 1860's period civilian usually taking my French easel, brushes, and oils to plein air paint. I had a great time last weekend camping and painting with friends and family... sorry I don't have a photo in my period attire to share... I forgot the camera... maybe next time.

Here is a verse from a song that was sung by the civil war soldier whose title remains unknown, but with a message that is very clear:

There's a hungry, thirsty soldier Who wears his life away,

With torn clothes, whose better days are o'er

He is sighing now for whiskey And, with throat as dry as hay,

Sings, "Hard crackers, hard crackers, Come again no more."

As the war progressed and hunger became an issue the last verse of the song went like this:

"It is the dying wail of the starving,

Hard crackers, hard crackers, come again once more;

You were old and very wormy, but we pass your failings o'er,

O hard crackers, come again once more."

80 8099 6/3/105