Confederate Prisoner

[AUG]

Very rarely seen CDV of an unidentified Confederate prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Maryland. By L.V. Newell. Notice that he wears a boot on his right leg and probably the shoe under the stool on his left. He appears to be holding a newspaper. It looks like he is wearing two jackets and a shirt underneath, and I'll leave it up to the uniform experts to tell exactly what they are. His hat appears to be a "beehive" style slouch hat that has been folded, flattened, and worn for some time.

• Title: Johney Reb
• Creator(s): L.V. Newell's Photograph Gallery, photographer
• Date Created/Published: [Point Lookout, Maryland], [between 1861 and 1865]
• Medium: 1 photograph : albumen print on card mount ; mount 11 x 7 cm (carte de visite format)
• Summary: Photograph shows unidentified Confederate prisoner of war at Fort Lookout in tattered and torn uniform.
• Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-38060 (digital file from original item, front) LC-DIG-ppmsca-38061 (digital file from original item, back)
• Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
• Call Number: LOT 14043-2, no. 39 [P&P]
• Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014646291/

 

[AndyHall]

Wonderful picture, but I could throttle the photographer who didn't record the man's name.

 

[AUG]

Wonderful picture, but I could throttle the photographer who didn't record the man's name.

Would have been nice it he photographed a few more prisoners as well....

 

[ole]

Wonderful picture, but I could throttle the photographer who didn't record the man's name.

Ditto.

 

[James B White]

Would have been nice it he photographed a few more prisoners as well....

Looks like he did, but...

From http://www.seacoastnh.com/History/As-I-Please/The-Day-History-Died/

"For photographer Lafayette V. Newell, it was the darkest of all his days.

"Newell discovered his shattered glass plate negatives some time after 1866. His prized collection of historic portraits filled two heavy wooden trunks. Both had been opened, the locks snapped, the irreplaceable contents broken and scattered.

"Newell had transported the fragile collection from his photographic studio at Point Lookout, Maryland. There, through much of the Civil War, he ran a business making portraits of the Union soldiers guarding the 25,000 Confederate prisoners interned there. Newell also photographed the prisoners of war, particularly officers and those who could afford a picture to send to worried families back home in the South."

 

[AUG]

Looks like he did, but...
From http://www.seacoastnh.com/History/As-I-Please/The-Day-History-Died/
"For photographer Lafayette V. Newell, it was the darkest of all his days.
"Newell discovered his shattered glass plate negatives some time after 1866. His prized collection of historic portraits filled two heavy wooden trunks. Both had been opened, the locks snapped, the irreplaceable contents broken and scattered.
"Newell had transported the fragile collection from his photographic studio at Point Lookout, Maryland. There, through much of the Civil War, he ran a business making portraits of the Union soldiers guarding the 25,000 Confederate prisoners interned there. Newell also photographed the prisoners of war, particularly officers and those who could afford a picture to send to worried families back home in the South."

Thanks for posting that, I searched his name earlier but found nothing. I wonder is he took this photograph of Confederate prisoners taking the Oath of Allegiance at Point Lookout.

 

[Patrick H]

I'm probably wrong, but that first picture, titled "Johnny Reb" looks like a staged, costumed, send-up to me--rather like a political cartoon, but staged with a model and photography, rather than with pen and ink. (I probably just stirred to pot again. My bad.)

 

[major bill]

Patrick H it appears the photographer did spend some time setting up the photograph, but the term "staged" might not be actuate. The positioning of subject seems well thought out. The worn out shoe seems odd so then again you might be right on. Why one almost new high boot and one worn out bootee? Did he just mug some one legged cavalryman? Also the subject seems well fed, has a fresh shave and hair cut.

 

[AUG]

The idea that this was staged, as to mean that it is not an actual Confederate soldier, did cross my mind. Although, looking at the photographer, it seems legitimate.

As for appearing to be in "good shape" for a prisoner, these prisoners also at Point Lookout don't look too "miserable" either.
Expired Image Removed
Source: The Photographic History of the Civil War in 10 Volumes by Francis Trevelyan Miller

 

[James B White]

I'm probably wrong, but that first picture, titled "Johnny Reb" looks like a staged, costumed, send-up to me--rather like a political cartoon, but staged with a model and photography, rather than with pen and ink. (I probably just stirred to pot again. My bad.)

That's actually what made me search his name. I thought it looked like a publicity photo of an actor in character and in costume. So I was actually surprised to find the photographer was at Point Lookout. But I still think something's not right about this particular photo.

 

[Northern Light]

That's actually what made me search his name. I thought it looked like a publicity photo of an actor in character and in costume. So I was actually surprised to find the photographer was at Point Lookout. But I still think something's not right about this particular photo.

Thr rip in the jacket look exactly like that, not worn, but cut with scissors. Why would he have his shoe off and tucked under the chair like that? There is just something not right, as you say.

 

[ErnieMac]

It's a pretty fancy doily the prisoner's resting his right arm on. Don't think too many of those were inside the camp.

 

[Rio Bravo]

I think he was most probably captured on Day 1 at Gettysburg in the town centre looking for new footware !!!

 

[Northern Light]

I think he was most probably captured on Day 1 at Gettysburg in the town centre looking for new footware !!!

Well, there is a really nice shoe store on Baltimore Street! I don't think he got his hat at Dirty Billy's, though.

 

[loppde]

Why didn't they keep the name of that fine fella? The photographer is really good but dumb for no name.