69th NY Soldiers

[noman]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/49941320@N04/4581946963/in/set-72157623875954509/

 

[Brendan]

That's fantastic. I'm never seen a photograph of a member of the 69th NYSM from this period before. Don't know a thing about that NYS frock either. It looks like a state shell jacket, a frock coat, and a fatigue blouse all rolled into one. Is that a red kepi too? There are some similar ones in that amazing rediscovered Louis Lang painting:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ent,_N.Y.S.M._from_the_Seat_of_War_-_1862.jpg

I loved your details from the more famous 69th NY Sunday mass photo on flickr as well. Would you mind adding them and the NYS frock photo to the Veterans of the American Civil War flickr group?
https://www.flickr.com/groups/veterans_of_the_american_civil_war/

Thanks for sharing!

 

[major bill]

I love the New York frock coat and unit number on the straw hat. It is always a joy to see what soldiers wore when at ease in camp.

 

[noman]

link of interest
http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/69thNYSM/69thInfNYSMMain.htm

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

This close-up from the famous Field Hospital at Savage's Station photograph has me puzzled. I know wounded soldiers of the 16th NY "straw hat men" were at the hospital after the Battle of Gaines' Mill, but this fellow has a rather indistinct badge on his hat band that looks like "69", not "16". Members of the the 69th were photographed the previous year at Mass wearing straw hats so we know they wore them, but the 69th NY did not see action during the Seven Days Battles in VA. They were protecting Washington, D.C. What unit could this be? (Descriptions of the 16th straw hats mention gilt letters on the black hat band. Officer hats also had black linings.)

 

[Brendan]

While the 69th NYSM were not in the Seven Days, the 69th NY Vols certainly were, and there were many who served in the militia unit in '61 who went on to enlist in the volunteer infantry regiment. If that is a "69," maybe its owner held onto his old straw hat? I'm not sure what it says, but I agree, it doesn't look like "16."

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

You are correct, they were there and that would account for it.