John E Chamberlin

[TerryB]

This was in an old 19th century album owned by a family in Virginia. I think their last name was Howard. The soldier's name is on the back of the photo. I could not find anyone by this name in CS records at Fold3, but there were a number of US soldiers by that name. Any thoughts on the uniform?

 

[Package4]

This was in an old 19th century album owned by a family in Virginia. I think their last name was Howard. The soldier's name is on the back of the photo. I could not find anyone by this name in CS records at Fold3, but there were a number of US soldiers by that name. Any thoughts on the uniform?

View attachment 178457

What is the name and where did they reside, I can take a stab through various resources. The kepi appears post war, maybe IW militia unit, but never know with late war caps.

 

[tbuckley]

The NPS Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database shown four John E. Chamberlin, one was in Co. G, 46th Indiana. Checking a list of Union Zouave regiments and it shows the 46th had "Zouave inspired veteran jackets". It might be a possibility.
https://zouavedatabase.weebly.com/civil-war-zouave-unit-master-list.html

 

[TerryB]

What is the name and where did they reside, I can take a stab through various resources. The kepi appears post war, maybe IW militia unit, but never know with late war caps.

His name was John E Chamberlin. It does seem postwar, but I've seen early war CDVs that were square. I don't have the dimensions, though.

 

[TerryB]

The NPS Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database shown four John E. Chamberlin, one was in Co. G, 46th Indiana. Checking a list of Union Zouave regiments and it shows the 46th had "Zouave inspired veteran jackets". It might be a possibility.
https://zouavedatabase.weebly.com/civil-war-zouave-unit-master-list.html

If that is his unit, it's a mystery how his photo ended up in a Virginia family's album.

 

[Package4]

If that is his unit, it's a mystery how his photo ended up in a Virginia family's album.

I looked up that particular Chamberlin and using Ancestry.com could not find a connection to Virginia; he died in Kansas in 1879, his wife remarried and moved to Chicago where she died. I am looking at the son Charles, who was born in 1874, for a possible Virginia connection.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

What is the name and where did they reside, I can take a stab through various resources. The kepi appears post war, maybe IW militia unit, but never know with late war caps.

Corporal Hezekiah Robison of Company A

 

[tbuckley]

Corporal Hezekiah Robison of Company A

The Jackets are similar.

 

[tbuckley]

If that is his unit, it's a mystery how his photo ended up in a Virginia family's album.

People got around back then. My Gr. Gr. Grandma was born in Virginia and had cousins in Virginia regiments, she moved to Ohio, and her Brother-in-Law (My Gr. Gr. Gr. Uncle) was in the 18th Wisconsin Infantry.

 

[Package4]

If that is his unit, it's a mystery how his photo ended up in a Virginia family's album.

The John E Chamberlin from the 46th was 13/14 years old when he enlisted in 1863 and died in Kansas in 1879. I cannot find any connection to Virginia, his mother was originally from Maryland and father from Pennsylvania. Maybe there was an aunt or uncle who made it to Virginia and he sent a CDV to them.

The jackets are similar, though those are the only two pictures that may be found online of soldier from the 46th.

According to Todd's, the regiment were issued blue semi-zouave jackets with bright blue trousers 1863-1865.

I think you have your man, though the Virginia connection is a puzzle. The hat could simply be a late war or even post war depending upon time taken. He would have been 16 to 17 upon his mustering out. He looks quite stout and most likely fooled the recruiters.

Are there any back marks from the photographer studio?

 

[TerryB]

The John E Chamberlin from the 46th was 13/14 years old when he enlisted in 1863 and died in Kansas in 1879. I cannot find any connection to Virginia, his mother was originally from Maryland and father from Pennsylvania. Maybe there was an aunt or uncle who made it to Virginia and he sent a CDV to them.

The jackets are similar, though those are the only two pictures that may be found online of soldier from the 46th.

According to Todd's, the regiment were issued blue semi-zouave jackets with bright blue trousers 1863-1865.

I think you have your man, though the Virginia connection is a puzzle. The hat could simply be a late war or even post war depending upon time taken. He would have been 16 to 17 upon his mustering out. He looks quite stout and most likely fooled the recruiters.

Are there any back marks from the photographer studio?

A friend in Mississippi sent me the scan. It was sent to him by a friend of his who, I think lives in VA. The family that owned the album was named Howard. Unfortunately, the sender didn't mention back marks. But from your research, we can be sure the photo wasn't taken off the man's body.

 

[TerryB]

My friend emailed me while I was at work with a correction. I just now got it. The families were named Howard and Carter (the album owners) and they didn't live in VA. They lived in West Tenn, which makes the Miss River the connecting point between the soldier and how he wound up in their album.

 

[TerryB]

My guess is the guy had a sister who married someone from Tennessee. My old albums are full of those kinds of connections.