Relatives photo in uniform

EJ Zander

Sergeant Major
Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Location
Gettysburg, PA
Hi All,
Got a couple relatives I am beginning to research. Here is a photo of one. His name is Daniel Blattenberger from Bedford Co Pa. Havent even got to what unit he was in yet. What type of picture is this?
Thanks
image1.JPG
 
Hi All,
Got a couple relatives I am beginning to research. Here is a photo of one. His name is Daniel Blattenberger from Bedford Co Pa. Havent even got to what unit he was in yet. What type of picture is this?
Thanks
View attachment 100936

D W. Blottenberger

Enlisted on 2/9/1864 as a Private.

On 2/9/1864 he mustered into "K" Co. PA 20th Cavalry
He was transferred out on 6/17/1865 at Washington, DC

On 6/17/1865 he transferred into "K" Co. PA 1st Prov Cavalry
He was Mustered Out on 7/13/1865 at Cloud's Mills, VA

History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865
.....................................................................................................
PENNSYLVANIA
ONE HUNDRED and EIGHTY-FIRST INFANTRY (TWENTIETH CAVALRY)
(Six Months)
Twentieth Cavalry. - Col., John E. Wynkoop; Lieut.-Col.,
William Rotch Wister; Majs., Samuel W. Comly, J. Harry Thorp,
Robert W. Douglass. The 20th cavalry, the 181st regiment, from
the counties of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Dauphin, Cumber-
land, Union and the city of Philadelphia, was recruited in June
and July, 1863. Seven companies were mustered into the U. S.
service for six months and five companies were emergency mili-
tia, called into being at the time of Lee's invasion of the
state. A regimental organization was effected in July. During
the invasion, it served by detachments on scout and picket duty
at the fords of the Susquehanna and along the roads leading
towards Carlisle, York and Marysville. On July 7, it left Camp
Couch, Harrisburg, where it had rendezvoused, and moved to
Greencastle, whence it proceeded to Falling Waters and engaged
in picketing the shores of the Potomac for a number of weeks.
The emergency companies returned to Harrisburg, and their place
was largely taken by six months' men. In August it moved to
Sir John's run in West Virginia, and did railroad guard duty in
the direction of Winchester, Cos. F and I being posted at Ber-
keley Springs, D and E at Bloomery gap, A and H at Great Caca-
pon Station and C at Hancock. The other five companies were on
detached service at Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville and
did not rejoin the command until the final muster out. In No-
vember it moved to Springfield, whence two companies made a re-
connaissance nearly 100 miles to the south, engaging and de-
feating a part of Imboden's command, and taking a number of
prisoners. On Dec. 24 it was ordered to Harrisburg and was
there mustered out on Jan. 7, 1864.

**********************************************************************************

Twentieth Cavalry.
(3 years service).


Cols., John E. Wynkoop, Gabriel Middleton; Lieut.-Cols..
Gabriel Middleton, Robert W. Douglass; Majs., J. Harry Thorp,
Robert W. Douglass, W. W. Anderson Samuel Comfort, M. B.
Strickler. Before the 20th cavalry was disbanded as a six
months' organization, steps were taken to reorganize it for
three years' service. The men were accordingly mustered in at
Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Jan. and Feb., 1864, for the long
term. Soon after it was finally organized it reported to Gen.
Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley; was engaged with some loss at
New Market in May, and the following month at Staunton, New
Glasgow, Lynchburg and Salem; was active at Snicker's gap in
July, losing 14, and made a daring charge at Winchester. In an
attack on the rear of Early's column at Ashby's gap, a few days
later, it met with a loss of 108 killed, wounded and missing.
When Gen. Sheridan assumed command of the forces in the valley
in August, the 20th was assigned to the 2nd brigade of the 1st
division, commanded by Gen. Devin. In the brilliant campaign
which now ensued the 20th bad its full share and on its conclu-
sion went into winter quarters with its brigade. Near the
close of Feb., 1865, it rode with Sheridan in the grand cavalry
raid towards Lynchburg and a month later joined the army in
front of Petersburg, then starting on its final campaign, in
which the cavalry had the advance. The 2Oth, led by Col. Mid-
dleton, was almost incessantly engaged and constantly in mo-
tion, having its full share in the heroic fighting which led up
to the final surrender on the 9th. On June 17, 1865, it was
consolidated with the 2nd Pa. cavalry to form the 1st Pa. Pro-
visional cavalry and was mustered out on July 13, 1865, at
Cloud's mills, Va.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 1

***********************************************************************************
 
There is still a lot to study about this image. Cavalry men are more often shown wearing jackets or sack coats. The number of images of them in frock coats, like the one in your image are less common. So I have some questions:

1. Can you tell the color of the piping on the uniform? It appears to be red and this would mean artillery. The true color of the piping may be had to determine.
2. There appears to be something on his belt on his right side (our left side), can you tell what it is? It kind of looks like a pistol handle to me, but could be a pouch.
3. There many be something on the other side of his belt. Can you make out what it is? It kind of looks like the top of a bayonet or maybe the top of a sword. A sword would help make it a cavalry image.
 
Thank you all very much for the input. I noticed his gig line was off in regards to the belt buckle and thought something was tugging it in that direction. But I also was not sure if the line being off was acceptable at the time.
Would these emergency cavalry units have artillery attached?
 
Thank you for the post. Thats a different relative. Daniel is a common family name. Also have a Daniel in the American Revolution. Here is the grave of the Daniel in the picture.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25251340

I will leave this up to you. But keep in mind that I have tried to help many people identify their ancestors uniforms in photographs and have seem many cases of the men in the uniforms not being who they believed it to be. Typically I have found photographs of European uniforms or uniforms from the Spanish American War or the Indian Wars being call Civil War uniforms. This is more common that you might believe.
 
NOte Daniel Blattenberger 1822-1888 of the 171st PA according to find a grave is buried at Fishertwon Brethern Cemtery, Fishertwon, Bedford County PA
Thanks for the info. Looks like I am going to have to do some more digging. Maybe the picture is his after all. Family word of mouth can be frustrating sometimes.
 
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