Oil on canvas portrait of Confederate Captain Samuel Wilkins, 50th North Carolina Infantry. Painting depicts Wilkins as a man in his early middle age, wearing a dark grey Confederate uniform with brass buttons, the second button undone, with non regulation captain's insignia to his coat collar, against a dark green background. Unsigned. Housed in a period American carved gilt wood frame with stenciled rock pattern to frieze. Sight - 29 3/4" H x 24 1/2" W. Framed - 35 3/4" H x 30 1/2" W. Third quarter 19th century. Note: This painting was featured in an article titled "Portrait of a North Carolina Captain: Samuel Wilkins of the Green River Rifles" by Jeff Whittmann, North South Trader's Civil War Magazine, Vol. 31, No. 5, 2005 (copy of magazine and genealogy report of the sitter is included). Note: Samuel Wilkins enlisted as a Captain in the 50th North Carolina Infantry on March 27, 1862 and served for three years. 50th Infantry Regiment completed its organization in April 1862, at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, North Carolina. Men of this unit were raised in the counties of Person, Robeson, Johnston, Wayne, Rutherford, Moore, and Harnett. Ordered to Virginia, it fought under General Daniel at Malvern Cliff, then returned to North Carolina. Here the 50th saw action at New Bern and Washington, transferred to J.G. Martin's Brigade, and for a time served at Wilmington. Later part of the regiment was stationed at Plymouth and part at Washington. In November 1864, it moved south and shared in the defense of Savannah and skirmished along the Rivers' Bridge. Afterwards it was sent back to North Carolina and was placed in General Kirkland's Brigade. The unit continued the fight at Averasborough and fought its last battle at Bentonville. CONDITION: Overall craquelure. Areas of inpainting to face and jacket, largest 3" x 1". Areas of varnish layer fluoresce under UV light, largest 4 1/2" x 2", primarily to perimeter. Abrasions to varnish layer, largest 9 1/2". Areas of painting flakes/loss, largest 9 1/2". 1/2" area of repair to canvas, visible top right en verso. Areas of loss, largest 5 1/8", to frame.