Might these be the same sergeant?

[rosefiend]

EDITED TO ADD: These are not the same people! The second pic is from Antietam, and the 1st Nebraska never made it that far east. Oh well that's the way it goes.

Hello guys!

On a family tree site I just found an old pic of William H. Linchfeld / Langsfeld / Lengsfeldt / Langsfield / Linchfield / Longsfelt of the 1st Nebraska Infantry (later Calvary). This is my g'g'g'grandpa, so I was elated. I started looking online for other images from the 1st Nebraska, when I found this profile image on a website (I'll link to it here in a moment.) But look at these two gentlemen. What do you think? Is it possible that both of these are Grandpa Langsfeldt?
(Side note, the man immigrated from Prussia but I've been having a heck of a time trying to find when he came over.)
Oh yes, here's the website where the second pic came from: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/military/CW/neincw/neincw.html

 

[RedRover]

They certainly do not look unlike each other, but the little evidence relative to the photograph suggests perhaps a mere resemblance between strangers.

The soldier with the horse was evidently photographed near Antietam, MD in Sept./Oct., 1863 by Alexander Gardner, evidently. Here are clearer copies from the Library of Congress website.

Gardner, Mounted Soldier, 1862: Library of Congress.

However, so far as I understand the 1st Nebraska served in the West, and was not mounted/converted to cavalry until 1863, and continued in western service.

1st Nebraska Cavalry, History, NPS.

Some books:

Marching with the First Nebraska: Diary: Google Books

 

[rosefiend]

*goes back to website where 2nd pic was found* What did that caption under that pic actually say??

"Above - Union cavalryman in uniform TYPICAL OF THOSE worn by Nebraska soldiers in the Civil War."

Welp! So much for that theory! And at the higher resolution, they don't look alike at all!

Live and learn, I suppose.

 

[RedRover]

*goes back to website where 2nd pic was found* What did that caption under that pic actually say??

"Above - Union cavalryman in uniform TYPICAL OF THOSE worn by Nebraska soldiers in the Civil War."

Welp! So much for that theory! And at the higher resolution, they don't look alike at all!

Live and learn, I suppose.

You certainly have there a fantastic photograph of your ancestor in uniform, which is more than most folks have!

 

[R. Porter]

Would this be the ancester?:

Wm Lynchfield
in the 1860 United States Federal Census

Name:	Wm Lynchfield
Age:	36
Birth Year:	abt 1824
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birth Place:	Prussia
Home in 1860:	Bellevue, Sarpy, Nebraska Territory
Post Office:	Bellevue
Dwelling Number:	167
Family Number:	144
Occupation:	Farmer
Personal Estate Value:	150
Married Within Year:	Y
Inferred Spouse:	Rosenia Lynchfield
Inferred Child:	Stelah C Lynchfield
Household Members (Name) Age Wm Lynchfield 36 Rosenia Lynchfield 25 Stelah C Lynchfield 5/12

 

[Lubliner]

Sure looks like the same man to me. He has a very distinctive bone structure to his facial features IMO.
Lubliner.

 

[OldSarge79]

While there is certainly an intriguing similarity, I don't think it's the same man.
The man on the right appears to have a dropping ear lobe, but not the man on the left.
If you look at the mustache around the corner of the mouth, the man on the right's whiskers are only coming from a narrow area, while the man on the left's growth there can be seen coming from much higher above the lip.
Also, note the difference in posture and size of the stomach area. Granted, after being in the army for a couple of years, the stomach might shrink, and he could have straightened up and sucked it in for the later photo, but why wouldn't he feel the same compulsion for the first photo?

 

[rosefiend]

Would this be the ancester?:

Wm Lynchfield
in the 1860 United States Federal Census

Name:	Wm Lynchfield
Age:	36
Birth Year:	abt 1824
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Birth Place:	Prussia
Home in 1860:	Bellevue, Sarpy, Nebraska Territory
Post Office:	Bellevue
Dwelling Number:	167
Family Number:	144
Occupation:	Farmer
Personal Estate Value:	150
Married Within Year:	Y
Inferred Spouse:	Rosenia Lynchfield
Inferred Child:	Stelah C Lynchfield
Household Members (Name) Age Wm Lynchfield 36 Rosenia Lynchfield 25 Stelah C Lynchfield 5/12

That's the one! My g'grandma Ida will be on the next census with this family.
I haven't been able to find out a definite time when he came over from Prussia. However, Rosina Alderton came over from England by herself (as far as I can tell) arriving in Boston in April 1857, where she was designated as a 21-year-old "spinster." Then Boom, three years later she's there near Omaha, married and with a little baby.

During the war, they move to St. Louis, then over to St. Joseph after the war, but I'm told he died in 1868. William was splitting wood and apparently was impaled by a piece of wood that flew back and killed him. Haven't been able to find a newspaper article about it yet, nor have I found his gravesite for some reason. He is listed in the Nebraska, U.S., Grand Army of the Republic, Burial Records, 1861-1948 records as William Longsfield but no grave location is listed. Go figure!!

 

[rosefiend]

You certainly have there a fantastic photograph of your ancestor in uniform, which is more than most folks have!

Thanks! I'm super-stoked to have found it!