Real Confederate?

[LTDavis]

What is above his shoes? The two big "stripes" look very strange. Socks and rolled up trousers?

I think its his pants tucked into his socks.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

This photograph looks too staged to me - from the meticulous grooming to the showy socks and shiny properly laced boots. The garb, accoutrements and weapon appear to be in unused pristine condition.

Wouldn't think by 1864, that too many Confederate soldiers could be found wearing such a clean, tidy and polished outfit and kit, like what's on display here.

Maybe this picture was taken after the war and purported (according to the written inscription) to portray a 'Private C.S.A. 1864'. However, can't make sense out of the written reference ...'aHigh'... preceding the word ...'Private'... - it doesn't present like a person's name.

My best guess is that it's a staged photo taken not of a Confederate soldier in 1864.

 

[OldSarge79]

EVERYTHING about the photo screams 1880's or 1890's, right down to the mustache and the way the photos are posed, as well as the backdrop.

 

[LTDavis]

Did Civil War soldiers really tuck their trouser legs in to their socks? | Questions? Ask Here! No Stone Left Unturned!

You will see many drawings or artworks showing Civil War soldiers with their trouser legs tucked in to their socks. This is especially true of drawings and artwork of Confederate soldiers. So was this actually common? It would seem like the trouser legs would not stay tucked in very well...

civilwartalk.com

This post has another photo of the same man with more info! It appears to be Sergeant Benson.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

I've seen this before.

To end everyone's confusion this is actually a post war photo of a model for Confederate monuments. Specifically the statue which would stand on top of the base of one.

The writing says: "A high Private C.S.A. 1864."

The "High Private" was used in several post war reminiscences such as:

"Reminiscence Of A High Private In The Rear Rank Of The Confederate Army" by James Flemming.

And How A One-Legged Rebel Lives. Reminiscences Of The Civil War: The Story Of The Campaigns Of Stonewall Jackson, Told By A High Private In The "Foot Cavalry".

If I remember correctly Sam Watkins used it in his memoir as well.

What "High Private" means I haven't a clue.

 

[Mike Serpa]

He is Frederick Augustus Olds, a North Carolina historian, lecturer, etc. Read about him at the link.

Olds, Frederick Augustus | NCpedia

www.ncpedia.org

Olds Elementary School in Raleigh is named after him.

Olds Elementary School / Homepage

www.wcpss.net

 

[Mike Serpa]

Here's a link to a photo of Olds wearing Pettigrew's coat, Ransom's cap, Pender's pants, Leventhorpe's sword and Grime's field glasses.

Image of Fred Olds wearing a composite uniform from Pettigrew, Ransom, Pender, Leventhorpe, and Grimes! #cw150

Modern museum professionals take great pains to protect the objects of history from wear and tear. However, many of the Civil War era objects collected in the early 20th century were still relativ…

civilianwartime.wordpress.com

 

[TerryB]

For High I'm reading Miss so A Miss Private. Yeah it really looks like something done late 1880s or even later. Oh, I got into the game late...Mike Serpa has solved it!

 

[Peace Society]

Is A. High somebody's name?

I would guess a name

High is a common name in my area (northern Carroll Co, Ark) - the hill I live near is Polk-High. High church and cemetery are at its base.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Holy cow! Found the same man in another pose!
Both images are on a French site for the Civil War https://ccffcw.clicforum.com/t4865-Dr-le-d-uniforme.htm?start=20
View attachment 446306

Note the inked inscription at the bottom "Skirmishers Advancing"
This suggests this was a figure study photograph made in later years for use by an artist was painting some 1864 event - such as the Cyclorama "The Battle for Atlanta" painting which depicts 1864!

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Oops - I wrote that last post as I went down thru the thread to see that the mystery had been solved!

 

[RoBert "Bert" Hile]

Looking at both pictures, I would say it is a person who posed for pictures either for family or for ads of some kind in the papers maybe. Whoever posed him knew their stuff, a vet maybe who worked after the war as a photo tradesman. Those shoes fit too well and as everyone else on the moon has stated, way too much shine. I haven't seen a slick pair of brogans in my life they have all been buffed leather. Two the shocks are too thin to see the dark of the pants through, they were of wool...which is too thick to pass light. The Uniform pants and shell are too clean. They were only that way when first issued. Two days later the bottoms would be dirty from sitting on the ground whenever and where ever he could sit. The Southern troops got new uniforms every year except 65, and being somewhat hand made were not known to stand up very well. Like some of the Yankee uniforms whose sleeves would fall off after one rain. The hair is too neatly cut so he isn't in the army, he has had time to go to a barber. And last but not least, the hat. The proper turn-up of the forward brim lets you know that the staging of this is by a vet. But the top of the hat isn't crumpled one bit. It has never been used as a pillow, period. The clearness of the print and quality of the print gives one to think it is a picture taken shortly after the 1900. Maybe to encourage Southern boys to fight against Spain. Otherwise it is a good picture of a recruit of 1861.

 

[RoBert "Bert" Hile]

Many of the uniforms made for the Southern States were used after the war for those who went and spent some time with the State Prison System. Georgia used those uniforms stored by Brown when he gave Longstreets Corps the blue ones they had when they went through Atlanta in the late summer of 1863. Those shell jackets were handy because of the pocket on the outside of the coat.

 

[Trooper "D"]

I've seen this before.

To end everyone's confusion this is actually a post war photo of a model for Confederate monuments. Specifically the statue which would stand on top of the base of one.

The writing says: "A high Private C.S.A. 1864."

The "High Private" was used in several post war reminiscences such as:

"Reminiscence Of A High Private In The Rear Rank Of The Confederate Army" by James Flemming.

And How A One-Legged Rebel Lives. Reminiscences Of The Civil War: The Story Of The Campaigns Of Stonewall Jackson, Told By A High Private In The "Foot Cavalry".

If I remember correctly Sam Watkins used it in his memoir as well.

What "High Private" means I haven't a clue.

"High Private"? Something to do with medicinal whisky is my vote.