Flowers in a Vase
5th Ohio Cavalry Civil War Memento Mori

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Civil War Bouquet by Josiah G. English
Civil War Bouquet by Josiah G. English Civil War Bouquet by Josiah G. English
Civil War Bouquet by Josiah G. English Civil War Bouquet by Josiah G. English
Josiah G. English
Flowers in a Vase
American: 1864
Watercolor and ink on watermarked Whatman 1856 paper
Signed and dated
12.75 x 16 inches, overall
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Folk art rendering of a bouquet of cut flowers arranged within a sculpted stone vase, inscribed by Josiah G. English, a member of the 5th Ohio Cavalry during the Civil War.  The vase and floral arrangement are adorned with birds.  Birds also hold two banners inscribed with touching original manuscript dedications from English to his son.  His words imply that it was intended as a memento mori in case he died in battle, either painted by him or by someone else for him. 

The 5th Ohio Cavalry was part of the Union Army during the Civil War, organized in August 1861 and disbanded in October 1865.  Throughout 1864, when this painting was inscribed, the unit was on maneuvers in the Confederacy, mainly in Georgia, where it guarded the railroad and participated in battles, notably the Siege of Savannah.  During the course of the entire Civil War, 27 men from the regiment died from battle wounds and 143 of disease.

Memento mori – keepsakes for remembering the dead -- were a popular genre of art, craft and photography during the Victorian era. 

Left inscription:  “Josiah G. English/ 3rd Battalion/ 5th Ohio Cavalry/ To, Howard M. English/ 1864”

Right inscription:  “ [?]/ Conceive[?] for me/ A Grave/ Keep This Howard/ In Remembrence [sic] of your Father/ J. G. English/ 1864”

Reference:

Stevens, Larry.  "5th Ohio Cavalry." Civil War in Ohio.  8 July 2001.  http://www.ohiocivilwar.com/cwc5.html (15 February 2006).