Just a simple foot soldier

[General Butler]

This nice quarter plate has no jazz no sizzle but in reality reflects 100's of thousands of similar foot soldiers
Just a kid in uniform hoping to live.

 

[chubachus]

I wonder what his right hand is on? Bayonet, gun or maybe a pipe?

 

[Mrs. V]

I wonder what his right hand is on? Bayonet, gun or maybe a pipe?

Almost looks like a fife.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Possibly a book. A Testament perhaps? Mothers liked to see things like that.

 

[mofederal]

A great image to me, a nice frock coat with piping, a nice forage cap, no sizzle would be a 4 button sack coat to me.

 

[Lubliner]

He appears well-fed and healthy, and I love the way he sits his kepi.
Lubliner.

 

[Seduzal]

Sadly enough if this photo could talk, my name is....was there amy identification on the back of the photo?
Thanks for sharing this photo. Another piece of Civil War history found.

 

[James N.]

A good-looking typical Federal probably early-war infantryman!

 

[unionblue]

It is a face we should all remember, when looking at the headstones in National Cemeteries, North or South.

 

[chubachus]

Possibly a book. A Testament perhaps? Mothers liked to see things like that.

It looks cylindrical, perhaps an inch in width.

 

[chubachus]

This nice quarter plate has no jazz no sizzle but in reality reflects 100's of thousands of similar foot soldiers
Just a kid in uniform hoping to live.

View attachment 355024

Have you tried taking this frame apart before? I think there might be some interestings things cut off on the left and right including the the identity of the mystery item in his right hand.