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A nice bust shot of Colonel John W. Ray of the 49th Indiana Infantry.  Ray was commisioned Colonel of the 49th Indiana in November 1861.  He resigned in October 1862.  There is no backmark.

 

This regiment was organized at Jeffersonville and was mustered in Nov. 21, 1861. It left the state Dec. 11 for Bardstown, Ky., and left there Jan. 12, 1862, for Cumberland ford, where it remained until June, suffering greatly at the latter place from disease. It was in skirmishes at Big Tree gap and Cumberland gap in March; accompanied Gen. Morgan's forces to Cumberland gap in June, and occupied the place on the 18th, the enemy retiring the same day. It remained there until September, when it joined in the retreat to the Ohio river, reaching Greenupsburg, Ky., early in October. It proceeded to Coal Mouth, W. Va., and in November was ordered to Memphis, joining Sherman's army on the expedition to Vicksburg. It was in the battle at Chickasaw bluffs, losing 56 in killed and wounded, and was in the expedition against Arkansas Post. It assisted in digging a canal across Young's point, and then moved for the rear of Vicksburg, participating in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's hill and Black River bridge. It was then engaged in the siege of Vicksburg until its fall, including the assault of May 22. It took part in the seven days' siege of Jackson in July, and was ordered to New Orleans in August, being assigned to the Department of the Gulf. It moved to Berwick's bay, took part in the Teche expedition, going as far as Opelousas, and on its return to New Orleans was ordered to Texas, reaching Matagorda Peninsula, Dec. 14. It moved to Indianola, where on Feb. 3, 1864, 171 reenlisted. It embarked at Matagorda island April 19, for Alexandria, La., where it reinforced Banks' army and was in continuous skirmishes until May 13, when the army retreated to the Mississippi. It returned to New Orleans, was furloughed home in July, was ordered to Lexington, Ky., at the expiration of its furlough, and remained there until Sept. 7. It then proceeded to Louisville, where it was mustered out Sept. 13, 1865, having marched 8,000 miles during its service. Its original strength was 974; gain by recruits, 294; reenlistments, 177; total, 1,445. Loss by death, 238; desertion, 94; unaccounted for, 42.