The New England Civil War Museum has acquired another piece of history close to its roots.
It's a picture of Willard Griswold.
Griswold was a Rockville native who enlisted in the Fifth Connecticut infantry regiment.
Museum Executive Director Matthew Reardon said the image showed up unidentified on eBay and he was all too happy to acquire it. He did not disclose the price.
Griswold was active in the Grand Army of the Republic Hall that now serves as the museum at Vernon's Town Hall. He was already in a regimental reunion picture hanging in the hall.
In the recently acquired picture, he was wearing a pin the Confederates placed on him after being released from a Civil War prison. He had donated the same pin to the hall years ago.
According to civilwarintheeast.com, The Fifth Connecticut was organized in July of 1861 for a three-year tour under Abraham Lincoln's original call for volunteers and re-enlisted for the war in 1864, serving until July of 1865. A total of 104 enlisted men were killed and one officer and 82 enlisted men were lost to disease.
Major engagements included the Battle of Cedar Mountain in 1962, the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns in 1863 and it was involved in the occupation of Atlanta and the March to the Sea in 1864 and the occupation of Raleigh in 1965.
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