1st VA cavalryman clothing examination

[Ethan S.]

This photograph in Bill Turners "Even More Confederate Faces" will be a part of my collection soon, as I currently have him on layaway. He's ID'd, and belonged to Company I, 1st VA Cavalry. He also was a part of the Stuart Horse Artillery after Gettysburg. I won't divulge any other personal info on him as I want to do a big thread on him after I get the image in hand. Sorry.


In the book, it says that this ambrotype has a date of Nov. 1860, several months before war broke out and he enlisted in time for first Manassass. I've seen that style cap before, or at least something close to it. John Gageby, also of the 1st VA Cav. Had a hat like this. His jacket seems military too, but how is that possible if it's a pre-war image? Then again, I know next to nothing about uniforms and clothing of that era. I have a feeling the date is wrong or a typo.


Any insight on what he's wearing would be appreciated!

 

[RedRover]

This photograph in Bill Turners "Even More Confederate Faces" will be a part of my collection soon, as I currently have him on layaway. He's ID'd, and belonged to Company I, 1st VA Cavalry. He also was a part of the Stuart Horse Artillery after Gettysburg. I won't divulge any other personal info on him as I want to do a big thread on him after I get the image in hand. Sorry.


In the book, it says that this ambrotype has a date of Nov. 1860, several months before war broke out and he enlisted in time for first Manassass. I've seen that style cap before, or at least something close to it. John Gageby, also of the 1st VA Cav. Had a hat like this. His jacket seems military too, but how is that possible if it's a pre-war image? Then again, I know next to nothing about uniforms and clothing of that era. I have a feeling the date is wrong or a typo.


Any insight on what he's wearing would be appreciated!

If it's pre-war it is just a militia uniform.

Flipped/corrected: brass buttons, standing collar with colored facing, etc. certainly makes it military like.

Company I, 1st Virginia Cavalry Regiment, CS Army was organized from the "Harrisonburg Cavalry" company of Rockingham County, Virginia. This company was among the State militia corps which came forth in April, 1861.

Alexandria Gazette, April 23, 1861.

The Harrisonburg Cavalry was apparently mustered into active service with the Provisional Army of Virginia at Harrisonburg on May 22, 1861 for one year. And would have been among the Virginia troops tendered to the Provisional Army of the Confederate States in June, 1861. In the summer of 1861 was attached to the 1st Virginia Cavalry, CS Army, as Company I.


His cap is of the common citizen's style of the period.

A militia company at Sheboygan, Wisconsin... many in common cloth caps...

But also frequently worn by Virginia militia...

His coat or jacket, presumably gray, would perhaps be that of the "Harrisonburg Cavalry." Many Virginia volunteer militia companies began adopting gray uniforms in 1860. For example, Captain Turner Ashby of the "Mountain Rangers" of Fauquier County, in late 1860 announced the company would re-outfit in Virginia domestic gray cloth.

Similarly the Seaboard Rifles of Princess Anne County in 1859:

Lynchburg Daily Virginian, 12-30-1859.

 

[GMSorrel]

Yeah I saw this one there back in July. I was concerned with the ID since the date didn't seem to jive with the jacket he was wearing. To me, the coat seems to be of mid or late war manufacture and not necessarily a pre-war or militia type jacket. But I could be wrong.

 

[Ethan S.]

Yeah I saw this one there back in July. I was concerned with the ID since the date didn't seem to jive with the jacket he was wearing. To me, the coat seems to be of mid or late war manufacture and not necessarily a pre-war or militia type jacket. But I could be wrong.

I definitely think the date is wrong, but his physical description and age match.

 

[GMSorrel]

I definitely think the date is wrong, but his physical description and age match.

Having bought a lot of Confederate images, that's the big debate. When one piece of information is wrong, how trustworthy is the remainder? Questions like that haunt me personally and always makes me wonder just how solid the ID is. Truthfully, even when all the info seems correct, it's really only an identified second image of the soldier that really seals it. Cases can be swapped with names, family members can be confused, etc. so there is always that little bit of doubt that exists unfortunately.

 

[GMSorrel]

I agree he's the right age. I missed seeing the physical description in his CSR.

There was a slip of paper with the image. Can't remember if it was period or was it something copied from the book.

 

[R. Porter]

Some pre-war forage caps:

This is the Forage Cap 1825 - 1832.

The button on top is the only button. This next image is an Officer's Forage Cap 1839 - 1851. Notice the spikey buckle in the chin strap. I'm sure I've seen these in relic collections. They mus be mostly early war.

Next is a portrait of a member of the 1st Dragoons in 1845. Notice the star cap badge. This can't be for Texas since he's in the U.S. Army.

Next are Forage Cap 1839 - 1851 Type 1 and Type 2. The only noticeable difference that I can see is in the bill.

They both have a fold-down neck guard. There is also a Type 3 but the book didn't show an overall view of it.

 

[Ethan S.]

Here's a better look at him

 

[RedRover]

Here's a better look at him

Looks almost like the collar could have some colored trim on the edges perhaps...

Also, looks like a pocket on both the left and right sides... so probably a jacket.

 

[Ethan S.]

Looks almost like the collar could have some colored trim on the edges perhaps...

View attachment 533957

Also, looks like a pocket on both the left and right sides... so probably a jacket.

View attachment 533958

I can't tell if that's trim or his bowtie

 

[DoctorKingSchultz]

I can't tell if that's trim or his bowtie

Judging by how it fits around the collar, and between the bowtie knot and the collar there seems to be a separation, I'd say they're definitely separate and the collar has trim. It also seems to be a different material to the bowtie, which has appears to be satin.