Many of you may have seen this photo attributed to Matthew Brady before. I saw the full image with the writing at the top and it is actually flipped most places it is shown on the internet. Above I have shown the actual correct image as photographed by Brady. I read that the photo was taken at a Union camp near Falmouth, Virginia in spring 1863. This was at the time of the Fredericksburg campaign. My great-great-great grandfather was William Ackermann and he was a captain in the 62nd NY Anderson Zouaves. I believe the injured Zouave in the photo is my great-great-great grandfather Ackermann. He was shot through his left hand at the Battle of Salem Church/Marye’s Heights (only a few miles from Falmouth, VA) during the May 3-4 battle. He was a member of the Anderson Zouaves out of New York and he also had a small mark on his left cheek from being shot in the cheek by a bullet in 1862 at Malvern Hill. A mark can be seen on the left cheek of the soldier in the Brady photo that would be consistent with such an injury a year after being shot. And I have many records proving Ackermann was shot in the left hand at the Battle of Salem Church during the Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville campaign. As you can see, when the image is not reversed, the injury to the Zouave is clearly a left hand injury, consistent with him being shot in that hand the first week of May 1863 near Falmouth, Virginia. Welcome your thoughts on the photo and what I have uncovered about the photo being reversed. As you can see when it is corrected, it has handwriting in upper corner that reads “Wounded Zouave”. I own the presentation sword given to Captain Ackermann in Fall 1863 by his regiment as appreciation for his leadership and his valor in combat, as he was wounded twice fighting against the confederates (including the hand wound in May 1863). Happy to share additional documents or information as requested to substantiate what I believe to have uncovered.

Matthew Brady photo