Civil War sergeant CDV ?

[Bugattimiller]

I came across this image of what looks like a federal sergeant. Interestingly he is wearing a snake buckle belt and his headgear looks like a kepi as opposed to an issue forage cap. Not sure if this is civil war period any thought would be appreciated.

 

[JOHN42768]

Might be photography studio prop

 

[Bugattimiller]

Am I right in assuming he is a regimental quartermaster sergeant?

 

[RedRover]

I came across this image of what looks like a federal sergeant. Interestingly he is wearing a snake buckle belt and his headgear looks like a kepi as opposed to an issue forage cap. Not sure if this is civil war period any thought would be appreciated.

Hello, He's a Union Army Quartermaster Sergeant.

He's wearing the 1858-1872 uniform coat, with Quartermaster-Sergeant chevrons on the sleeves. This would have been of silk binding in his branch of service color, matching the trim of his uniform coat.

1861 pattern sky-blue trousers apparently.

As you mention, his cap may not be an 1858 pattern forage cap, but a private purchase French "chasseur" or "McClellan cap." Union soldiers frequently bought them from the same sources as the officers if they preferred when on furlough or were sent them from home. Charles E. Sprague of the Union Army recalled...

His waist belt is British. Union troops were often provided with British Enfield Rifles, and sometimes too with the corresponding British made accoutrements, including the snake belt. A corporal...

Some privates..

 

[UnionistMarylander]

I came across this image of what looks like a federal sergeant. Interestingly he is wearing a snake buckle belt and his headgear looks like a kepi as opposed to an issue forage cap. Not sure if this is civil war period any thought would be appreciated.

View attachment 564034

Definitely a Civil War image, he's wearing the 1858 frock coat. The three horizontal rockers on his chevrons denote that he is a Quartermaster Sergeant.

Kepis were never issued items, and they were commonly privately purchased by officers and senior enlisted alike.

For example, this kepi was purchased by Sergeant Billings Hodgdon, of the 5th Maine Infantry:

Overall, nice image! My 7x great grandfather was a Commissary Sergeant in the war as well!

 

[RaggedAssSecond]

Numerous Union regiments were issued with imported English accoutrements including belts with snake buckles.

Unknown - Union Sergent John Emery - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

<strong>Inscription:</strong> Inscribed in ink on small paper note found with tintype: "Uncle John Emery // brother of // Lucy King // buried at E. Concord // died in 1876 // buried at back in right corner"

www.metmuseum.org

 

[Robert Gray]

 

[Bugattimiller]

Thank you to everyone for the information, interestingly the cdv has the backmark W. Lowden, Elizabeth Street, Maxwelltown, DUNDEE. Just wonder how a union QM sergeant was having his photograph taken in Scotland?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Believe many Scots (viz. thousands) fought for the Union, and some returned to Scotland after the CW.

This unnamed Federal Quartermaster Sergeant might have returned to Scotland after the cessation of hostilities and wore his uniform to pose for the photograph taken by William Lowden, of Elizabeth Street, Maxwelltown, DUNDEE.

 

[Bugattimiller]

Believe many Scots (viz. thousands) fought for the Union, and some returned to Scotland after the CW.

This unnamed Federal Quartermaster Sergeant might have returned to Scotland after the cessation of hostilities and wore his uniform to pose for the photograph taken by William Lowden, of Elizabeth Street, Maxwelltown, DUNDEE.

Indeed a very good point, hadn't thought of that one. I'm in the UK and my mother was Scottish, she said the Scots always liked a good fight, especially on Saturday nights. Thanks again for your input, most interesting.

 

[RaggedAssSecond]

Checkout the following article. It talks about postwar CDV copies with Irish and Scottish photography studio backmarks.

A Union Officer, A Dublin Backmark Trans-Atlantic sleuthing finally yields identity of Irishman in photo

Courtesy of Michael Hammerson JOHN COPPINGER SERVES POPE AND THE UNION by Michael Hammerson LONDON -- As an English student of the American Civil War for…

thewildgeese.irish

 

[Bugattimiller]

Checkout the following article. It talks about postwar CDV copies with Irish and Scottish photography studio backmarks.

A Union Officer, A Dublin Backmark Trans-Atlantic sleuthing finally yields identity of Irishman in photo

Courtesy of Michael Hammerson JOHN COPPINGER SERVES POPE AND THE UNION by Michael Hammerson LONDON -- As an English student of the American Civil War for…

thewildgeese.irish

A really interesting article, many thanks for bringing it to my attention.