Before & After: Fleetwood

[Mike Serpa]

A post-war photo of Medal of Honor recipient Christian A. Fleetwood. - Library of Congress 3c18565v

A photo from late 1865 - District of Columbia. Officers of 4th U.S. Colored Infantry at Fort Slocum

LOC 04140

 

[James N.]

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.

 

[Pat Young]

Great pics.

 

[gary]

Some please explain his shoulder straps.

 

[JOHN42768]

Nice Work

 

[Bruce Vail]

If Fleetwood was a non-com in the 4th USCT, why does his cap bear the numeral 7?

 

[Bruce Vail]

The design of this portrait makes him look taller than in the group shot in the OP.

 

[18thVirginia]

Terrific production, as always, Mike Serpa.

 

[Bruce Vail]

He appears to be wearing different medals in the different photos.

 

[WJC]

If Fleetwood was a non-com in the 4th USCT, why does his cap bear the numeral 7?

My guess is that for these post-war photos he wore borrowed uniforms, perhaps furnished by the photographer.

 

[Mike Serpa]

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

 

[Mike Serpa]

Here's the photo from the link in post #11.

 

[Mike Serpa]

And Fleetwood's original MOH without wreath.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...-1880s/?hl=+christian++fleetwood#entry2238547

 

[WJC]

The design of this portrait makes him look taller than in the group shot in the OP.

Is this possibly a photo taken in the late 1880s, well after he left the Army, when he was a Major commanding the Sixth Battalion of D.C. National Guards?

 

[J. Hanger]

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

 

[James N.]

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:

 

[gary]

Thanks WJC. That would explain the shoulder straps I had asked about earlier.

 

[Mike Serpa]

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.