Looking for information on this uniform

[emurphy1973]

Hi everyone! I hope this post is ok here. I'm new and still trying to figure this out. I'm trying to find out about this uniform. The young man wearing it is my Great Great Grandfather Eugene Hermance. He was born in 1869 and lived in the NYC area, so I know he wasn't in the Civil War, but I was hoping someone could shed some light on this uniform. The collar devices look like crossed canons with the Number 3 in the middle, And the cover has the number 3 and an "S" and O/U/D?? I can't make it out. Any information would be super helpful! I attached the photo to this thread. Thank so much!

 

[E_just_E]

This is a Lieutenant's uniform in the US Third Artillery Regiment c.1895-1902
( I turned the image to be a bit easier to see)

 

[AndyHall]

That medal looks very much like a contemporary Sons of Union Veterans medal (founded 1881). Could the letters on the cap be S.V. (Sons of of Veterans)?

 

[emurphy1973]

This is a Lieutenant's uniform in the US Third Artillery Regiment c.1895-1902
( I turned the image to be a bit easier to see)

Ok...I figured it was 3rd Artillery, but I wasn't sure as to when it ceased. Thank you for turning the image for me I couldn't figure out how to do it. I haven't been able to find any military records for him yet, but I have found Civil War records that I believe are for his father Henry Hermance. I wonder if there is a way to figure out if this was His uniform for the military or like AndyHall says for the Sons of Union Veterans?

 

[emurphy1973]

That medal looks very much like a contemporary Sons of Union Veterans medal (founded 1881). Could the letters on the cap be S.V. (Sons of of Veterans)?

View attachment 125355

I haven't been able to find any military records for him yet, but I have found Civil War records that I believe are for his father John J Hermance. How can I find out if this is as you say a Sons of Union Veterans or his own uniform for the 3rd Artillery Regiment?

 

[emurphy1973]

That medal looks very much like a contemporary Sons of Union Veterans medal (founded 1881). Could the letters on the cap be S.V. (Sons of of Veterans)?

View attachment 125355

The medal does look very similar to the medal you posted.

 

[AndyHall]

I haven't find any military records for Eugene Hermance, either. The SUVCW is a private organization, but was quite large, with many camps and divisions around the United States. It may come down to looking for archival copies online and (more often not) of individual camp rosters and programs.

 

[Ralph Heinz]

As a lieutenant in a turn of the century officer's tunic I wonder about the cap insignia. My first impression is that it is a state militia -- possibly S D standing for South Dakota rather than a US Army officer's cap. Some state militias served in the Spanish-American War. That cap insignia just doesn't look Federal to me without a U.S. in place of what looks like S D.

 

[major bill]

That does look like a 1895 pattern officer forage cap. These were often used by state militia with added insignia on the front.

 

[major bill]

It also appears that he is wearing a standard 1895-pattern officer undress coat.

 

[emurphy1973]

It also appears that he is wearing a standard 1895-pattern officer undress coat.

Any chance this could be some sort of Fireman's Dress Uniform? My Aunt seems to think she remembers stories about it being that, but crossed canons don't seem to be in line with this theory.

 

[emurphy1973]

As a lieutenant in a turn of the century officer's tunic I wonder about the cap insignia. My first impression is that it is a state militia -- possibly S D standing for South Dakota rather than a US Army officer's cap. Some state militias served in the Spanish-American War. That cap insignia just doesn't look Federal to me without a U.S. in place of what looks like S D.

I've thought about this theory, but I'm pretty sure it can't be South Dakota because he lived in New York City/ Queens his whole life including starting a family. I have him in an 1880 census, 1900 census. The 1890 Federal Census was mostly destroyed by fire, but I do have him in New York Census for 1905 and 1925. It does look like it could be an SD, but I'm just not sure it would be South Dakota.

 

[emurphy1973]

Thank you everyone who replied.