Before & After: Fleetwood

Mike Serpa

Lt. Colonel
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
A post-war photo of Medal of Honor recipient Christian A. Fleetwood. - Library of Congress 3c18565v
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3c18565v .jpg


A photo from late 1865 - District of Columbia. Officers of 4th U.S. Colored Infantry at Fort Slocum
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LOC 04140
 
I'll take the opportunity to observe that Fleetwood in the top photos is wearing the officer's M.1872 forage cap with the M.1872 insignia for infantry and M.1872 blouse, with its distinctive black wool mohair braid trim.
 
Nice Work
Thanks.

Terrific production, as always, Mike Serpa.
Thank you!

Some please explain his shoulder straps.
I don't see an insignia. A Second Lieutenant.

If Fleetwood was a non-com in the 4th USCT, why does his cap bear the numeral 7?
Don't know.

He appears to be wearing different medals in the different photos.
The Medal of Honor in the OP. I would be guessing about the others. He received a replacement MOH of the Gillespie design of 1904. Notice the wreath to make it look more varied than the GAR Medal.
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...tyle-moh-engravings/?hl=+christian++fleetwood
 
I'll take the opportunity to observe that Fleetwood in the top photos is wearing the officer's M.1872 forage cap with the M.1872 insignia for infantry and M.1872 blouse, with its distinctive black wool mohair braid trim.

To add further: "Crossed muskets were first introduced into the U.S. Army as the insignia of officers and enlisted men of the Infantry on 19 November 1875 (War Department General Order No. 96 dtd 19 Nov 1875) to take effect on or before 1 June 1876."

J
 
To add further: "Crossed muskets were first introduced into the U.S. Army as the insignia of officers and enlisted men of the Infantry on 19 November 1875 (War Department General Order No. 96 dtd 19 Nov 1875) to take effect on or before 1 June 1876."

J
Thanks for the correction! I'd forgotten that although the insignia for the infantry WAS changed in 1872, it was to a smaller version of the old chasseur horn or bugle as used during the Civil War. The change was because the new short shako for full-dress was overall smaller in area than the Hardee hat that was regulation until then. The infantry corporal standing second from the right is wearing such a shako in the print by famous military artist Henry A. Ogden:

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He appears to be wearing different medals in the different photos.
I posted his photo yesterday at usmilitariaforum dot com and the only response is, "The medal closest to his coat seam is a Butler medal for valor U.S.Colored Troops. Center is Medal of Honor and the third I don't recognize."

I'll check again tomorrow.
 

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