Doubleday or no Doubleday

[Pastor Steve]

I purchased this picture a few months ago on ebay, thinking I'd found an unidentified picture of Abner Doubleday. It looked familiar when I saw it online, but when I got it in hand, I'm less sure it's Doubleday. Of all the pics I could find of him, this one looks younger and thinner than Doubleday during the war. Haven't seen any prewar shots of him that I know of, though he was career army. Just wondering if anyone can help. No markings on the back of the photo.

 

[Ole Miss]

Pastor welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and North Mississippi! I copied the photo to search on Google but had no luck matching it with Doubleday. I am sure another member will be better able to assist in your project.
Regards
David

 

[Andy Cardinal]

Welcome from northeast Ohio!

 

[TnFed]

Welcome from Southwest Ohio!

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri located on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River. It certainly looks like Doubleday. I think you are spot on.

 

[39th MS. Rebel]

Welcome from NE Mississippi!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Boy, I don't know. Your guy is more slender than Doubleday? What we need is a uniform expert like @major bill - we don't know when the image was taken. Who knows how much someone aged during those years although I'm not sure anyone put on weight through the war. Age is different? Read an account where a ship's captain's hair turned white nearly overnight when the German torpedoes began picking off ships around the time the Lusitania was hit.

Hang on- here's your image.

One of Doubleday, although no idea when in the war.

Almost never say ' no ' with these old treasures, always a mistake. We lose a lot of History turning our backs on possibilities. Have to admit your man's nose and chin are extremely similar, face shape, same- unsure about his eyes and they can fool you in photos. Depends on perspective, age and expression sometimes.

Welcome! Hope an expert on uniforms can help, have several! Thanks for bringing your Ebay find here. Was it RARE? Ever notice they're all RARE?

 

[RochesterBill]

Man, I gotta say that sure looks like Doubleday to me. Look at that hairline, particularly on his right side. Pretty singular.

As for his weight, I can sadly testify that men tend to get a little thicker as they grow older, and the physical hardships that cause enlisted soldiers to keep pretty trim are not usually factors with general officers.

 

[Badgercwcollector]

Nice either way !

 

[rpkennedy]

I've only ever seen photos of Doubleday from the war and post-war era. But the hairline is pretty close without blowing the photo up and doing a detailed examination. If it is him, it would have to be from the late 1840s or early 1850s because by 1860, he pretty much looks like he does during the war (he's gotten a little paunchy with heavy bags under his eyes). Of course, he was over 40 when the war began.

Ryan

 

[Arioch]

Both sporting "hathead"...doesn't help....but....I think it's him....obviously we would need to date the respective photos (both of them in post #7)...at what point...are the photos taken?....

I can't make out what kind of boards the subject is wearing in the first 'younger looking' man...obviously the uniform tunics are different...single row of buttons vs. the Gen's double row in the 2nd....I can't make out the belt buckle either...

 

[John Hartwell]

I have to say I have doubts that it's Doubleday, but I would like to hear expert comment on the uniform. Every other picture I fine he's wearing the double-breasted tunic -- his rank in the first picture is, sadly, indistinct. The hair-style (fluffy over the ears) and drooping mustache were very popular during the war. I seem to recall one earlier picture (can't find it now, of course), in which his hair was different, shorter all around.

 

[GELongstreet]

The second picture in post #7 shows him as Brigadier General so it is from 1862.

Here we have him first in April 1861 and then within the next months.

 

[chubachus]

He looks too young to be Doubleday during the Civil War.

 

[rpkennedy]

He looks too young to be Doubleday during the Civil War.

Agreed. If it's from the war, it's definitely not him. From around 1850, I'd say maybe.

Ryan

 

[Yankeedave]

Good Morning Pastor. Hello and welcome from Colorado.
Kind of think it is him. The ears look the same. Very nice find sir.

 

[bankerpapaw]

Welcome from NW Georgia

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. My two cents is that it is not him

 

[Saint Jude]

Welcome! He looks too young to be Doubleday.

 

[Yankeedave]

He had to be young at some time.