Average Civil War soldier?

[Southern Son]

I don't know where to post this, so ......
Captain Samuel J. Richards of Company F 2nd Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, was a real soldier. He is documented to have worn leopard skin trousers with matching pistol holsters.
Never saw something like him before.
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[Borderruffian]

I've seen the photo before. I believe the trousers were actually made of jaguer hide.

The jaguer's range was much ****her north in the 19th century. It was popular with the Mexican Vaqeuros as adornment for their saddles and also as fandango trousers.

There are also stories of jaguers being killed in southern Arizona and New Mexico well into the 20th century.

 

[PvtClewell]

Rather sporty, no?

Say, would those trousers be considered something like camouflage? Except, of course, when riding into town. To the disco.

 

[.Ol'WarHorse]

Oddly enough, this thing wasn't too unusual. You had other Civil War soldiers who thought highly of their looks. Look at J.E.B. Stuart, he would ride into battle with a hat with an ostrich plume on it, aswell as a specially designed frock coat that had maroon frays on it. Custer, Pleasonton, and Pickett were all notorious for staining the battlefield with the pungent smell of cologne. Yet, this man, I do believe has the oddest outfit of the bunch.