Georgia Artillery

[GMSorrel]

I just received this great CDV (period copy) of a group of Georgians in Daniell's Battery (aka Regular Battery B). One of them is Earnest Chisolm (probably the one on far left). The earliest this picture could have been taken would have been late 1863 or even possibly in 1864.

Question 1: would these uniforms been available at that time? These look like the classical early war uniforms worn by some in the 4th, 7th, etc. Georgia Infantry.

Question 2: Does anyone know of any other Georgia Artillery photos that show this artillery insignia/design on the collar?

Any comments are most appreciated!

 

[major bill]

Great image thank you for posting it.

 

[Legion Para]

How have you dated the time period when this image was most likely taken?

 

[chubachus]

Looks like it might have been copied more than once down the line from the original. Still a great photo though!

 

[GMSorrel]

I got the time period from looking at the service records available. The only Chisolm/Chisholm that fits is the one that served in Georgia's Daniell's battery. He enlisted mid 1864 (he would have been 19). Before the battery became Daniell's, it was referred to as Regular Battery B. He is listed as a member of that unit on the CWDB, but there are no record s for that unit on Fold3 . Not sure where CWDB got their info, but I find it unreliable at times. There are no other matches and he would have been only 15 if it was a prewar militia image.

(FYI-The photo came out of a Georgia photo album)

 

[MTSR4000]

Great photo! Fine patriotic men!

 

[TerryB]

If they were stationed in Georgia, I could see the uniforms being spiffy.

 

[Legion Para]

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CGADANIYAL

Daniell's Battery was organized during the fall of 1863. The unit served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and was active in the defense of Savannah. Later it disbanded. The company was commanded by Captain Charles Daniell.

Never say never. I can't give you conclusive answers without further research. With that said, Daniell's Battery could have been attired in such uniforms.

 

[Frederick14Va]

- Maxwell's Battalion of Georgia Regular Artillery - Company-B (Capt. Charles Daniell)
- The Battalion failed to be officially recognized so was dissolved, the respective companies thereafter served as independent battery's.... ie: Daniell's Battery (they initially were armed with Four 6lb bronze guns)
- Late war and surrender record give the unit name then known as Capt. Wagener's Co, Reserve Artillery

Just a possible theory here.....

Albert F Chisolm:
- April 16th 1861 enlisted into the 4th Georgia Infantry Co. D.
- April 28th 1862; appointed 3rd Sergeant.
- Aug 13th 1862; transferred to Co.C
(spent a fair amount of time sick in hospitals; Intermitting fever, dysentery, hepatitis, gonorrhea)
- Oct 1862; last entry for him in surviving record for this unit, separate note indicating possible substitute provided.

- Nov 18th 1864; enlisted into Daniell's battery
- Dec 1864 last surviving record entry.

Perhaps the subject in question is this "Albert Chisolm"?... The image in question may have been an early war one as suspected when he was then a member of the 4th Georgia... prior to his later enlistment into Daniell's battery... but which was his last service duty in the war... would certainly explain the uniforms worn above...

 

[GMSorrel]

Thanks for all the feed back - Alfred F. Chisolm was Earnest's brother and did serve very briefly in the 4th GA. He later served in Daniell's battery with Earnest. Very probably he is also in that photo if it was taken while Earnest was in Daniell's Battery. I had thought maybe the one who wrote the name in the album temporarily mixed up the names as well. What makes me think this is not the 4th GA infantry is the design on the collar, hence my question about other GA artillery units and their collar design. In my limited experience it's an odd collar for any of the Confederate uniforms like this and if it is seen, it's usually attached to an artilleryman.

Again, all of your comments are appreciated!

 

[Frederick14Va]

Not unusual during those early times of the war for uniform trim and patterns to differ from company to company, even within the same respective regiment... The stripe(s) on the collar were an old style, yet still popular in some regions, commonly referred to as "false button hole"... some with a small button attached, some not... regardless of the branch of service they might be..

Here is a similar pre/early war pattern design worn by a subject identified with the 35th Ga Infantry...

 

[GMSorrel]

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[DOswalt]

The guys in the first image are wearing what appears to be the uniform of the EM of the LaGrange Lt Guard of the 4th GA. There is an image in the History of the Doles Cook Brigade of Eugenious(sp) Ware in this same uniform and collar design. There also exists an image of Sgt. Joe Hill in the same uniform/collar configuration. Both served in the LLG. The image of Bull appears to have been taken while he was a Lt. in that same unit.

 

[lelliott19]

The guys in the first image are wearing what appears to be the uniform of the EM of the LaGrange Lt Guard of the 4th GA. There is an image in the History of the Doles Cook Brigade of Eugenious(sp) Ware in this same uniform and collar design. There also exists an image of Sgt. Joe Hill in the same uniform/collar configuration. Both served in the LLG. The image of Bull appears to have been taken while he was a Lt. in that same unit.

https://archive.org/stream/historyofdolesco00thom#page/n155/mode/2up/search/Ware

Is Ware the guy pictured at far right in @GMSorrel 's image?

 

[Mike Serpa]

@GMSorrel, nothing to do with the OP but here is the largest photo of Sorrel I was able to find. From Heritage Auctions.

 

[GMSorrel]

@lelliott19 @DOswalt Thanks so much for your comments!

The backmark is "Rasbury and Prophitt" of LaGrange Co. which supports a 4th GA image. However I don't know if that is the original studio that took the photo. I can't find any records for Rasbury and Prophitt together right off to help date the photo. Also, the CDV looks like a copy from a print rather than a copy from the original exposure so it could have been taken elsewhere. I will say that I am no expert in the field of CW photography so I do not know how all that worked.

LaGrange is in Troup County. In addition to the LLG (Co. B,4th GA), there was the West Point Guards (Co D, 4th GA). The WPG is the unit that Ernest's brother Albert served in, so even if it was a mislabeling of the wrong Chisholm brother he did not serve in the same company as Ware although there is a good resemblance of Ware and one in the photo. It could be that Ernest served very briefly in the LLG and with the holes in the records it just doesn't show. I feel like the photo is more 4th GA than Georgia Artillery.

What's the odds that Ernest's Artillery uniform in 1863-1864 looked identical to the known uniforms used in the 4th GA that his brother served in in 1861-2???

 

[GMSorrel]

@GMSorrel, nothing to do with the OP but here is the largest photo of Sorrel I was able to find. From Heritage Auctions.
View attachment 127563

That's me, I mean him.

 

[Package4]

@lelliott19 @DOswalt Thanks so much for your comments!

The backmark is "Rasbury and Prophitt" of LaGrange Co. which supports a 4th GA image. However I don't know if that is the original studio that took the photo. I can't find any records for Rasbury and Prophitt together right off to help date the photo. Also, the CDV looks like a copy from a print rather than a copy from the original exposure so it could have been taken elsewhere. I will say that I am no expert in the field of CW photography so I do not know how all that worked.

LaGrange is in Troup County. In addition to the LLG (Co. B,4th GA), there was the West Point Guards (Co D, 4th GA). The WPG is the unit that Ernest's brother Albert served in, so even if it was a mislabeling of the wrong Chisholm brother he did not serve in the same company as Ware although there is a good resemblance of Ware and one in the photo. It could be that Ernest served very briefly in the LLG and with the holes in the records it just doesn't show. I feel like the photo is more 4th GA than Georgia Artillery.

What's the odds that Ernest's Artillery uniform in 1863-1864 looked identical to the known uniforms used in the 4th GA that his brother served in in 1861-2???

I would venture to say unlikely and IMHO the picture denotes early war uniforms and footwear. The high collars went the way of A tents rather quickly, they are very abrasive to the neck and the company "tailor" would wack them down to size for better comfort. You see the same on actual war used federal shell jackets, collars significantly reduced for comfort. The rash caused by those high collars is quite painful, my first reenacting frock coat had a high collar and it took the first weekend of wear to make sure it was altered for the next event.

 

[Chattahooch33]

Roster of Daniell's Battery Light Artillery

http://ranger95.com/civil_war/georg...bat_lite_art/daniells_bat_lite_arty_rost.html

 

[Package4]

Early War Kepi from the 4th GA Company H, a note was found behind the sweatband, transcript attached. Sweatband has regt. and company designation inscribed on sweatband, but not soldier's name. The H was on the front, but came loose, patent leather two piece brim painted green on the underside. Cap exhibits a rather large sweatband for a kepi, indicative of early war manufacture, along with the long brim and green painted underside. Black band and gray wool sides and disk, slightly faded to a gray/butternut hue. Oilcloth chin strap secured by civilian buttons and a linen liner.