Anyone Recognize This Guy With Impeccable Uniform

[JeffHendricks]

The photographer and all the rest of the sitters in the album are from Boston. Also in the album are CDV's of Wendell Phillips, Thomas Starr King and quite a few others that look important. This guy has the cleanest, perfect uniform I have seen in a while. Can't see the front of his hat and I am wondering if the stitching on his coat sleeve can tell me anything.

 

[chubachus]

Any photographer info on the back? The kepi looks like it has crossed cannons, so I reckon he is an artilleryman.

 

[Old Soldier]

The multitude of buttons suggest a shell jacket = artillery too. In addition, the piping in the shell jacket and the color on his collar look quite dark. This is a typical problem with photographic emulsions of the time which tended to show red as black or dark grey Most other arm colors had a lighter appearance. Red = artillery.

 

[captaindrew]

He's wearing a frock coat under his great coat, you can see the layers He's sitting on behind his knee and you can see a touch of it to the left of the brim of his cap.

 

[Dan Kohli]

It looks like crossed cannons on the front of the guy's cap.

 

[Salterr]

The photographer and all the rest of the sitters in the album are from Boston. Also in the album are CDV's of Wendell Phillips, Thomas Starr King and quite a few others that look important. This guy has the cleanest, perfect uniform I have seen in a while. Can't see the front of his hat and I am wondering if the stitching on his coat sleeve can tell me anything.View attachment 489585

I'm sweating just looking at all those layers! On his coat sleeve he has one row of quatrefoil that's for lieutenants. His single row frock also suggests the same rank. Lieutenant and captains wear single row buttons.

 

[Salterr]

This could be an early war image. the 1861 regulations state that a dark blue overcoat was worn but by a general order later in the war, officers were allowed to wear the same light blue color of their enlisted men.

 

[JeffHendricks]

Thanks to all that replied. Here is reverse of CDV.

 

[JeffHendricks]

While I am at it. I think I may have a Captain Franklin Gardner in Union uniform, before he became a General for the Confederacy. I am probably wrong. It is a Brady photo and I think Brady did not start photography of soldiers until the war had started and if that is the case, I am definitely wrong. This album also has a photo of soldiers boxing with teepees in the background. What I think that is telling me is that it was taken during his time in Utah dealing with the Indians there before the Civil War in the Utah War. There is an inscription under the photo in the album that says "Capt. Gardner, James Long's Captain In Army". But, there is a 99.99% chance I am totally wrong. I am sure there is someone who can set me straight!!! BTW, no back mark on the boxers.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

The men in the boxer photo are probably British or Canadian; note the pill box cap. The trim haircuts and the man with bowler hat indicate later than the Civil War. The tents are not tepees but conical military tents.

 

[JeffHendricks]

The CDV's in the album are mainly from Buffalo and Lockport NY, which Canada is close by. There is a guy in the album that has that hat, but I assumed (I know what assuming does!!) he was a Union soldier. He is attached.

 

[JeffHendricks]

By the way, none of the CDV's are any later than about 1866 or 7 in the album so it would be strange that the one boxing CDV would be later.

 

[JeffHendricks]

Well, like I said at the beginning of the post, I am probably 99.99% wrong.

 

[chubachus]

While I am at it. I think I may have a Captain Franklin Gardner in Union uniform, before he became a General for the Confederacy. I am probably wrong. It is a Brady photo and I think Brady did not start photography of soldiers until the war had started and if that is the case, I am definitely wrong. This album also has a photo of soldiers boxing with teepees in the background. What I think that is telling me is that it was taken during his time in Utah dealing with the Indians there before the Civil War in the Utah War. There is an inscription under the photo in the album that says "Capt. Gardner, James Long's Captain In Army". But, there is a 99.99% chance I am totally wrong. I am sure there is someone who can set me straight!!! BTW, no back mark on the boxers.View attachment 489614View attachment 489615View attachment 489616

Great photo! Does anyone recognize what types of tents they are? Maybe we could find what army they are in from that. That one hat visible does look like the type they wore in the British Army.

 

[Robert Gray]

The photographer and all the rest of the sitters in the album are from Boston. Also in the album are CDV's of Wendell Phillips, Thomas Starr King and quite a few others that look important. This guy has the cleanest, perfect uniform I have seen in a while. Can't see the front of his hat and I am wondering if the stitching on his coat sleeve can tell me anything.View attachment 489585

From the digital collections of the New York Public Library.

 

[JeffHendricks]

Thanks to all that replied and thanks to Robert who definitely cleared up the rank of the soldier in the coat. Here is a little treat for you guys. I got this one recently. I know who it is, but thought I would put it up here for you guys to take a look at. She was a definite character if any of you have read about her. I have not found any photos of her in this dress, but have seen many in pants. Actually, I am going to put 3 up here. They are all from the same album. Enjoy?

 

[JeffHendricks]

By the way if anyone was wondering picture #2 is Davis Collins Captain Company K 3rd Michigan Cavalry
But picture #3 I have yet to figure out. Maybe Wild Bill or Kit Carson female sharpshooter.

 

[10th Michigan Infantry]

The photographer and all the rest of the sitters in the album are from Boston. Also in the album are CDV's of Wendell Phillips, Thomas Starr King and quite a few others that look important. This guy has the cleanest, perfect uniform I have seen in a while. Can't see the front of his hat and I am wondering if the stitching on his coat sleeve can tell me anything.View attachment 489585

His uniform reminds me of Phil Kearny, and so does his beard. The problem is Kearny only had one arm.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

#1 Belle Boyd was a famous Confederate spy
#3 Annie Oakley, female sharpshooter
If that is Annie, that's a very early photo of her!

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Thanks for the photo quiz! You came to the right place, look at all they were able to answer!