Help with my avatar

[TinCan]

Does anyone have a clue as to who this officer might be? The only id I've been able to find was,"unknown Confederate Naval Officer". Sure would like to know who he is.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Well, let's see... The insignia on his cap, a foul anchor with wreath, indicates the rank of Master (corresponding to our modern Lieutenant, j.g.). He's in Confederate Navy gray, which increases the possibility that he was in the Mobile Squadron (the uniform regulations being more strictly enforced there than elsewhere), but that's not a sure thing.


ETA: See post #10 below on the reading of the cap insignia...

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Here are the lists of Masters (in line of promotion) from the 1863 and 1864 Confederate Navy Registers. I think it is likely (although still not a given) that the photo is one of these men.

Masters in Line of Promotion (1863)

Mortimer M. Benton (Kentucky): Mobile Station
Francis T. Chew (Tennessee): CSS Palmetto State
A. M. Mason (Dist. Columbia): CSS Chicora
Thomas L. Moore (North Carolina): Mississippi defenses
Ivey Foreman (North Carolina): CSS Baltic
H. B. Littlepage (Virginia): CSS Atlantic
R. C. Fonte (Tennessee): CSS Georgia
H. H. Marmaduke (Missouri): CSS Chattahoochee

Masters in Line of Promotion (1864)

Joseph P. Claybook (Missouri): Special service
William P. Mason (Virginia): Special service
William F. Robinson (Alabama): Naval squadron, Mobile
John R. Price (Alabama): Special service
David A. Telfair (North Carolina): Special service
Daniel Trigg (Virginia): Special service
Isaac C. Holcombe (Georgia): Special service
William R. Dalton (Alabama): Special service
Algernon S. Worth (Virginia): Special service
Robert A. Caman (Virginia): CSS Hampton
Dabney M. Scales (Virginia): Special service
John T. Walker (South Carolina): Special service
Samuel S. Gregory (North Carolina): Special service
William W. Read (North Carolina): CSS Richmond
Richard H. Bacot (South Carolina): CSS Chicora
Edward J. McDermett (Texas): Mobile Squadron

 

[101combatvet]

Do you own the image?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

This is apparently H(ardin) B(everly) Littlepage, so we can eliminate him:

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

And this is Dabney M. Scales; think we can cross him off, too:

Expired Image Removed

Or can we? Hm. There's an interesting similarity to the mouth... but the eyes look different to me. I think it's a long shot.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

This is a long shot. . . but it may help identify the fellow,


LOCATIONS OF CONFEDERATE NAVY & MARINE PERSONNEL IMAGES
http://www.csnavy.org/images.htm
http://www.csnavy.org/images.htm

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Hm. Shame there don't seem to be image links. :\

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Where did you find the image originally?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Aha... or on a completely different tack, here's some commentary by Andy on his blog; he reads the symbol within the wreath as an engineering "E" rather than as a foul anchor: http://deadconfederates.com/2014/05/05/tom-liljenquist-continues-to-amaze/

I could see that, especially if the image in the OP is reversed... unfortunately, that widens, rather than narrows, the scope of who the gent could be.

 

[Klaudly]

3rd or 2nd assistant engineer, before april 21, 1862, after this date, the regulation allows the shoulders-strap to that rank

 

[101combatvet]

Ah, no way to identify him since it is a Liljenquist image.

 

[TinCan]

I've gone cross eyed trying to figure what that darn cap insignia is. Wish they hadn't been so clumsy with the retouching.

 

[AndyHall]

View attachment 46836
Does anyone have a clue as to who this officer might be? The only id I've been able to find was,"unknown Confederate Naval Officer". Sure would like to know who he is.

Expired Image Removed

TinCan, I posted this image on my blog, and got this reply. I cannot verify its accuracy, but the commenter does this sort of research:

The subject is William Ahearn. Here is his bio:

Ahern, William

Born 12 October 1840 at

Lansingburg, Resselaer County, New

York

Father: Jeremiah Ahern

Mother: Alba Cynda Lyon

Appointed third assistant engineer, CSN from Virginia, 30 September 1861. Promoted to second assistant engineer, 22 January 1863, and to first assistant engineer, 15 August 1863. Appointed first assistant engineer, PNCS, 2 June 1864.

CSS Jamestown, 1861. Richmond Naval Station, 1861-1862. Jackson Naval Station, 1862. CSS Georgia (Ironclad), Savannah Naval Station, 1862. CSS Palmetto State, Charleston Naval Station, 1862-1863; participated in the attack on the Federal blockading squadron off Charleston Harbor, 31 January 1863. CSS Drewry, Richmond Naval Station, 1863-2 June 1864. Ordered to CSS Florida (cruiser), 2 June 1864. CSS Florida (cruiser) 19 June-7 October 1864. Captured at Bahia, Brazil, 7 October 1864. Held at Point Lookout 15 November 1864. Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C., 15-18 November 1864. Point Lookout 18-25 November 1864. Fort Warren, 26 November 1864-6 February 1865. Held in close confinement for plotting to escape as of 10 January 1865. Paroled, 1 February 1865.
Married Mary Jane Gill at Richmond, Virginia, 30 September 1860.

Children:

Carolyn Louise

James Jeremiah

John Thompson

Mary Alba

William Joseph

Willie Elizabeth

Julia Francis
Machinist , Richmond, Virginia, postwar.
Died at Richmond, Virginia, 6 November 1901.
Buried, Maury Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
Source: Ianthia J. Payne.

His brother was also an engineer in the CS Navy:

Ahern, Holmes

Born 14 April 1844 at Lansingburg, Rensselaer County, New York

Father: Jeremiah Ahern

Mother: Alba Cynda Lyon

Private, Company A, 4th Battalion Local Defense Troops, 20 June 1863.

Appointed third assistant engineer, CSN, from Virginia, May 1864. Appointed third assistant engineer, PNCS, from Virginia, 2 June 1864.
CSS Drewry, James River Squadron, 1864 1 October -24 January 1865; Battle of Trent's Reach, 24 January 1865. Ordered to CSS Richmons, 24 January 1865. Ordered to report to Lt. Charles W. Read, CSN, for temporary special duty, 1 February 1865; took part in the unsuccessful torpedo boat expedition commanded by Lt. Charles W. Read, CSN, 3-13 February 1865.
Married Margaret Tinsley, 12 December 1871.

Children:

Harry Hartwell

Mary Elizabeth
Machinist at Richmond, Virginia, postwar.
Died 6 February 1902.
Buried, Maury Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
Brother of William Ahearn (q.v.)
Source: Robert L. Toombs IV.​

 

[TinCan]

Thanks Andy,
One can always count on you were naval facts are concerned. Wow, a yankee confederate engineer, how very interesting.