Help identifying this unit

[Billw12280]

Hello,

I just purchased a glass negative and I am trying to identify the unit (this is a image created from the negative by the seller). My initial thought is that it is of the Dandy Fifth in dress uniform but I suppose it could also be a New York National Guard unit. Can anybody help clear this up and let me know what you see that leads you to your conclusion? I would really appreciate it.

 

[SWMODave]

Nice photo - hope someone here can help you

 

[Patrick H]

If the guys didn't look that mature, I'd say they are cadet (kaydet) uniforms. But these guys look in their 20s to me, with the guy on the left in the front row well into his 30s. That's all a guess. I think these guys are a militia unit, a local guard unit, even a faculty and student body at a military school. Those are total guesses. Now I will be embarrassed by someone who knows what they are truly talking about.

 

[Billw12280]

If the guys didn't look that mature, I'd say they are cadet (kaydet) uniforms. But these guys look in their 20s to me, with the guy on the left in the front row well into his 30s. That's all a guess. I think these guys are a militia unit, a local guard unit, even a faculty and student body at a military school. Those are total guesses. Now I will be embarrassed by someone who knows what they are truly talking about.

Thanks for the response. They are definitely a post ACW militia unit, I have a 1870s-1880s uniform from the Dandy Fifth that looks just like the one pictured but the New York militia also wore the same type coatee, therein lies the id problem. Another member pointed out the Trapdoor Springfield rifles which are another indication of post ACW.

 

[Patrick H]

Hah...I hadn't even looked at the rifles. My bad.

 

[major bill]

The cross belt plates do look like they have a "5" on them.

The man knelling on the right appears to wear a five -button dark blue blouse. The 1874-pattern enlisted five button fatigue blouse had branch colored piping (collars and cuffs) until the branch collar piping was discontinued with the 1884-pattern enlisted blouse. No piping here so no earlier than 1884

The same man appears to have marksman's buttons on his collars. I can not tell if the marksman's buttons are the 1880 "Laidley style or the 1885 "Blunt" style. If I could see if the target circles on the marksman's buttons were round or oval I could date it better. Based on him wearing a 1884-pattern blouse I am going with mid to late 1880s or even 1890s. The height of the collar of the white shirt of the man wearing the five-button blouse says 1880s to 1890s to me

The medal this man wears could be identified to see if it is a New York medal.

 

[chubachus]

Very nice image. Any idea who it was taken by?

 

[Billw12280]

Very nice image. Any idea who it was taken by?

Unfortunately I'm not sure who took the picture. I would say it was a professional but there are no markings on the negative.