This public domain image shows Charles A. Fischer, in uniform, during the Civil War. Fischer was chaplain for the 32nd Indiana Regiment. Not to be confused with the other Charles Fischer who served as a Private in Company E of the 32nd Infantry Regiment 1861-65, this Charles Fischer enlisted on 16 February 1862 in Company S as Chaplain. Guess the war didn’t suit him, he resigned eight months later, on 9 Oct 1862. Fischer died in 1867.

The photograph was taken by Daniel Stuber of Louisville KY. Daniel was born in Germany, and emigrated to Ohio with his family at a young age. He was a daguerrian in Louisville KY as early as 1855. There was also a Michael Stuber listed in the 1880 census as photographer, probably related as Michael had a son named Daniel as well. In Craig’s Daguerrian Registry he says Daniel died in 1884, but gives his birth as 1842. The census consistently shows Daniel as being born ca. 1833-34, while Michael was born ca 1842-43. (If Daniel were born 1842 and worked as a daguerrian in 1855, he would only have been 13 years old!) There was a Daniel Stuber listed as photographer in the 1890 city directory for Louisville — it is not clear if that is this Daniel, or Michael’s son Daniel.

This is a scene on the Yangchow River in the Kiangsu Province of China. The patchwork sail on the boat, floating on sparkling waters, give a bucolic impression, quite at odds with the realities of the time. This was just after World War II, and much of the area was gripped in devastating famine.

The photographer for his image was Arthur Rothstein (1915-1985). Rothstein became known first for his photographs for the Farm Security Administration prior to the War, during the Great Depression. After the war, he traveled to China, and took several documentary images of the famine, as well as scenic views, such as this. He died in New Rochelle, New York in 1985.