Major General John M. Schofield is portrayed in a full-length studio pose in this cartes de visite sized image on a cabinet card mount from the War for the Union Photographic History series, published by John C. Taylor, Sole Owner and Publisher, No. 17 Allen Place, Hartford, Connecticut, with the series spanning original photographs taken between 1861 and 1865. The albumen CDV print is mounted on cabinet card stock and identified by a printed caption below the image along with the series title and date range along the lower mount border.

Schofield stands leaning lightly against an ornate fluted column with a draped curtain behind him, wearing a double-breasted Union officer's frock coat with shoulder straps, dark velvet cuffs, and a double row of brass buttons. His beard is full and his hair receding, his posture relaxed but erect. A patterned carpet is visible at his feet.

John McAllister Schofield (1831-1906) commanded the Army of the Ohio during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and led Union forces to a decisive victory at the Battle of Franklin in November 1864. He later served as Commanding General of the United States Army and as Secretary of War under President Andrew Johnson.

The reverse bears the full series text headed "1861 The War for the Union 1865, Photographic History," with publisher information identifying John C. Taylor as sole owner and publisher at No. 17 Allen Place, Hartford, Connecticut, and a handwritten notation reading "20" at the top.