Basil Duke

[Mike Serpa]

Is something connecting his third and fourth buttons? Or is it a blemish on the photo? Thanks.

I think part of the chair is visible under his right arm.

 

[James N.]

It looks like maybe a piece of material or strand of hair wound around the button shanks, but that's strictly a guess.

 

[donna]

I always thought it was a flaw in the photo. This photo is used on cover of General Basil W. Duke's book, "The Civil War Reminiscences of General Basil W. Duke, C.S.A." In that cover picture they have removed this glitch or whatever it is.

This photo was taken in April, 1864 when Duke was a prisoner of war at Fort Delaware. It is supposedly taken by John L. Gihon.

 

[Patrick H]

It's an odd little artifact, whether it's physical or a blemish. It appears to be casting a shadow at the bottom edge, as if it's
a ribbon curling up ever so slightly. I don't know what it is, but I believe it's a physical item that was present on his uniform.

 

[donna]

John L. Gihon (1839-1878) was a Philadelphia photographer. During the Civil War he got permission in 1863 to photograph Confederate prisoners at Fort Delaware. There were over 32,000 captured Confederates at the fort. Basil Duke was one of them.

Information on John L. Gihon at:

http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L._Gihon