Dean Thomas recently donated his extensive Civil War collection to DCHS. In addition to the thoughtful explanation by Dean which was published in the Northern/Southern Dutchess News (above), you’ll find (below), two DCHS Yearbook articles he had written. Click on either image for best viewing.
Above: Montage of close-ups of photo and case showing William H. Frear of Poughkeepsie. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Cedar Creek (see below).
Unsuspecting Left, a 1996 sketch by Dean Thomas done while visiting the site, depicts the 128th camped at dusk the night before the surprise Confederate attack the following morning. In what would become known as the Battle of Cedar Creek, (Virginia), officers of the Confederate Army were on the small mountain in the distance planning their attack.