Colonel Shaw? Or William Cogswell?

[CivilWarParlor]

This photo from the Massachusetts Historical Society says the 4th man from the left is Robert Gould Shaw.
However. In the Book Blue Eyed Child of Fortune page 229. The fourth man from the left is listed as William Cogswell. Photo is Officers of the Second Mass Infantry at Camp Andrew Brook Farm 1861.
The man is very short, Shaw was 5'6, How tall was Cogswell? and Cogswell had more weight to him.

Is this Shaw or Cogswell, It doesnt look like Shaw to me. Anyone know for sure?
Its been driving me crazy for a year.

You can enlarge the image here and see a better close up view : http://www.masshist.org/features/massachusetts-in-the-civil-war-1861-1862/cedar-mountain

Cogswell: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5993545

 

[rpkennedy]

It doesn't look like Cogswell to me, as he was rather stocky and that kid isn't. And it doesn't really look like Shaw either.

R

 

[CivilWarParlor]

The face is not Shaws, and Cogswell was rather chunky.

 

[Nathanb1]

I'm voting not Shaw. I can't see any kind of resemblance, other than he's a guy.

 

[CivilWarParlor]

The nose and chin are like Cogswell. http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/william-cogswell.html
Maybe he just gained a lot of weight later.
I wrote the Mass Historical Society and they never wrote me back.

 

[rpkennedy]

The nose and chin are like Cogswell. http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/william-cogswell.html
Maybe he just gained a lot of weight later.
I wrote the Mass Historical Society and they never wrote me back.

I've seen the picture posted on that site as being dated as 1861. Plus, the army's diet wasn't exactly conducive to gaining that much weight.

R

 

[Nathanb1]

He's a chunky monkey here......

So he was always chunky in his titled photos.....

 

[Nathanb1]

I'm not good at rank.....could we date the other known photo from his rank, and then determine whether the photo in question is earlier, later, or what?

 

[rpkennedy]

I'm not good at rank.....could we date the other known photo from his rank, and then determine whether the photo in question is earlier, later, or what?

After looking at it, the photo from post #5 has to be after 1861 and is probably 1863-1864. His uniform is that of a field officer and without visible rank on his shoulder boards, I'm guessing it's after he was promoted to colonel in June 1863.

R

 

[CivilWarParlor]

Good question. I don't know uniforms, LOL.. Imagine that ... Cogswell was a private in the Second Corps of Cadets, a militia organization of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. served in the Second Corps of Cadets during the winter of 1860–1861. After that he shows up on the radar ..Cogswell was promoted to lieutenant colonel and took command of the regiment on October 23, 1862. Promoted to Colonel in 1863.

 

[Nathanb1]

After looking at it, the photo from post #5 has to be after 1861 and is probably 1863-1864. His uniform is that of a field officer and without visible rank on his shoulder boards, I'm guessing it's after he was promoted to colonel in June 1863.

R

It's actually dated 1855 in the LoC. Caught 'em again....can't be. If it said he was a mule we'd have 'em twice.

 

[CivilWarParlor]

Which one is dated 1855?

 

[Nathanb1]

This one: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/brh2003003424/PP/

 

[rpkennedy]

In their defense, they have it dated between 1855-1865. It's clearly during the war and my guess is 1863-4.

R

 

[CivilWarParlor]

Yeah, but it could be anywhere between 1855 and 1865 and that makes no sense. Its for sure 1860's He looks old...much older than the guy in the group pic. Id write to the author of the book, but I cant find any way to reach him.

 

[TerryB]

LOC is never too specific about dates, usually giving a range.

 

[CivilWarParlor]

I've asked for help on my blog, most people think its Shaw. Wow he was so tiny. (if its him) This means that the writer of Blue Eyed Child Of Fortune who published Shaw's letters and wrote another book on him, has misidentified his own subject!!!! Thanks for taking time to help guys!

 

[Mike Serpa]

After looking at it, the photo from post #5 has to be after 1861 and is probably 1863-1864. His uniform is that of a field officer and without visible rank on his shoulder boards, I'm guessing it's after he was promoted to colonel in June 1863.

R

I agree with you. Here are two larger close ups of the same Cogswell photo. One without any modification. The other I monkeyed with to hopefully bring out more detail. A bird would take up a large area of the field and would be visible. All other ranks have insignias and would be visible except a 2nd Lt which has a field with no insignia. Which is he a 2nd Lt. or General?

It looks like a star in both of these. (There was one larger photo but it would not download.)