A Fur Coat At Bermuda Hundred, 1864

JPK Huson 1863

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Location
Central Pennsylvania
bermuda 100 snip.JPG

Warmest soldier in the army, dog in his fur coat on what looks to be a chilly day. AND, why is there a metal bed pan on a pedestal in their front yard? If that is a soldier's idea of a bird bath in the middle of a war I'll be delighted all day long.

Could not reconcile it with my conscience posting this in the photo forum. Besides, our puppies deserve their own place.

What does drive me a little crazy is orphaning these scenes- just ' Dog in camp, looks like a cold day ' doesn't work. @LoyaltyOfDogs , is this photo in the collection of ' dogs in camp '?

bermuda hundred 1864.JPG



1864, Bermuda Hundred, town outside Richmond with a series of battles swiping the name for ' The Bermuda Hundred Campaign '. That was Spring, not sure we'd see these overcoats in May and June, in Virginia. Ben Butler was having a shot at it, albeit the months do not fit with this photo. Looks chilly, may be a camp in place after the campaign, photo taken that Fall.
 
View attachment 218106
Warmest soldier in the army, dog in his fur coat on what looks to be a chilly day. AND, why is there a metal bed pan on a pedestal in their front yard? If that is a soldier's idea of a bird bath in the middle of a war I'll be delighted all day long.

Could not reconcile it with my conscience posting this in the photo forum. Besides, our puppies deserve their own place.

What does drive me a little crazy is orphaning these scenes- just ' Dog in camp, looks like a cold day ' doesn't work. @LoyaltyOfDogs , is this photo in the collection of ' dogs in camp '?

1864, Bermuda Hundred, town outside Richmond with a series of battles swiping the name for ' The Bermuda Hundred Campaign '. That was Spring, not sure we'd see these overcoats in May and June, in Virginia. Ben Butler was having a shot at it, albeit the months do not fit with this photo. Looks chilly, may be a camp in place after the campaign, photo taken that Fall.

The four seated men may well be officers of a colored regiment (note the two colored soldiers standing at right).

And, that may not be a 'bedpan' -- I'm opting for a wash basin. (The birdbath idea is tempting, though!)

Yes, you do see a lot of these anonymous "dog in camp" photos. It's too bad to pass them by without recognition. Perhaps we should have a special thread just for them?

Bermuda Hundred was continuously occupied by Federal troops from May 1864 through the end of the war -- so, through the winter. Lots of colored troops there ... and puppies, too, I'm sure.
 
View attachment 218106
Warmest soldier in the army, dog in his fur coat on what looks to be a chilly day. AND, why is there a metal bed pan on a pedestal in their front yard? If that is a soldier's idea of a bird bath in the middle of a war I'll be delighted all day long.

Could not reconcile it with my conscience posting this in the photo forum. Besides, our puppies deserve their own place.

What does drive me a little crazy is orphaning these scenes- just ' Dog in camp, looks like a cold day ' doesn't work. @LoyaltyOfDogs , is this photo in the collection of ' dogs in camp '?

View attachment 218108


1864, Bermuda Hundred, town outside Richmond with a series of battles swiping the name for ' The Bermuda Hundred Campaign '. That was Spring, not sure we'd see these overcoats in May and June, in Virginia. Ben Butler was having a shot at it, albeit the months do not fit with this photo. Looks chilly, may be a camp in place after the campaign, photo taken that Fall.
This is one of a series of photographs, with the signal tower in the background, the men depicted are part of the Signal Corps and the African Americans are listed as contraband teamsters. Second from the left is the individual in the previous photo (in doorway).
Teamsters Bermuda Hundred.png
 
The signal/observation tower was at Point of Rocks, which served as Butler's HQ and a hospital.

But that's not a July photo.
From what I understand, the signal tower was in operation from May 1864 into April 1865, in fact Lincoln, wife Mary and US Grant visited the week before Lincoln was assassinated. Due to the length of time in service the picture could be Fall 1864 or Winter1865.
 
Splendid post and research. I had noticed the river width in the background, and my point of observation places it on the north side of the river, which could be an just optical illusion. Is it possible the towers may have crisscrossed diagonally down the river and this is one on the opposite side? Signal stations carry flags, and observation allows sight into the defense fortifications close to Richmond. They invaded there at (Fort Hamilton?) in September I think near Chaffin's Farm and river bluff, and were keeping a close eye on Williamsburg pike and Varina Pike due to rebel scouts. Nine Mile Road area. It can be that kind of cold in September. (It doesn't snow in September...usually).
Thanks, Lubliner.
 
From what I understand, the signal tower was in operation from May 1864 into April 1865, in fact Lincoln, wife Mary and US Grant visited the week before Lincoln was assassinated. Due to the length of time in service the picture could be Fall 1864 or Winter1865.


Yes, had to have been? Sure isn't a Virginia summer ( or even Spring ) day. Wish letters, notes and heck maybe logs by these photographers would appear from whatever attic, private collection or archive they're hiding.

Little convinced for every photo and glass negative like these, the photographer took a ton more. ( like an idiot, had not connected those shots- despite an identical background. ) Arduous, setting that camera up. Having done so, you just know he'd do more than take one or two images.
 
The four seated men may well be officers of a colored regiment (note the two colored soldiers standing at right).

And, that may not be a 'bedpan' -- I'm opting for a wash basin. (The birdbath idea is tempting, though!)

Yes, you do see a lot of these anonymous "dog in camp" photos. It's too bad to pass them by without recognition. Perhaps we should have a special thread just for them?

Bermuda Hundred was continuously occupied by Federal troops from May 1864 through the end of the war -- so, through the winter. Lots of colored troops there ... and puppies, too, I'm sure.


It's a terrific plan, thanks! Thread or two on the topic, wonder if it's possible to merge them? Loyalty of Dogs has the background to an astonishing amount of them, too.
 
What a peaceful scene, and the dog is a beauty! That appears to be a wash basin, Annie, not a bedpan. Likely it is placed there for the men to wash up before being served a meal.
 
Yes, had to have been? Sure isn't a Virginia summer ( or even Spring ) day. Wish letters, notes and heck maybe logs by these photographers would appear from whatever attic, private collection or archive they're hiding.

Little convinced for every photo and glass negative like these, the photographer took a ton more. ( like an idiot, had not connected those shots- despite an identical background. ) Arduous, setting that camera up. Having done so, you just know he'd do more than take one or two images.
Certainly not an idiot, you found these and created a fantastic thread with a great idea about dogs, what's not to love about that!
 
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