Romanian uniform?

[major bill]

I am giving some thoughts about the uniforms worn by foreign observers during the Civil War. Does anyone know if Captain Emanoil Boteanu, the Romanian observer, sent by Prince Alexandru Ioan I to report on the American Civil War wore his Romanian Army uniform while in the field hear in America? If so what order of dress?

This is an image taken by Alexander Gardner (from Military Images vol. VI, No. 5) of Captain Boteanu. Note the white kepi.

 

[major bill]

 

[major bill]

Another Romanian in the American Civil War. Well a Hungarian Romanian anyway. He became a captain in the 12 New York Infantry. . He was killed at the Battle of Cross Keys. I have seen this i=mage of him saying this was taken during the Civil War. I have some serious doubts. This does not look like something he would have worn while a captain n the 12th NY Inf. Does it look more like a Romanian uniform?

 

[major bill]

We have a new member from Romanian which made me think about Romanian uniforms and the Civil War. Note the style of the trousers in both of the images I posted and the use of sleeve trim.

 

[CCMDCSA]

not a uniform expert but the last pictures uniform is def not one i have ever seen in american civil war dress the buttons on the chest look very eastern europe in style the first two i dont know could be american but look a little too flashy

 

[major bill]

The chest braid was sometimes seen on American militia unifoms at the time of the Civil War. The spindle shaped wooden button were much less common.

 

[CCMDCSA]

the shirt in the 3rd picture reminds me of a hussar uniform

 

[Badgercwcollector]

Nice photo's ! There's another aspect to the Civil War that needs further study ( foreign observers.) What did they report? Who did they report To ? How long did it take to get their information back home ? What did the the home country do with the information ? I have about 50 CDV's from all over Europe and I love all the different uniforms. Used to be able to pick them up for 50 cents and a dollar.

 

[diane]

Let's give a holler for our new friend, then! @Ainatari

 

[Ainatari]

Another Romanian in the American Civil War. Well a Hungarian Romanian anyway. He became a captain in the 12 New York Infantry. . He was killed at the Battle of Cross Keys. I have seen this i=mage of him saying this was taken during the Civil War. I have some serious doubts. This does not look like something he would have worn while a captain n the 12th NY Inf. Does it look more like a Romanian uniform?


View attachment 175905

The photo is of Nicolae Dunca, a Romanian soldier from Iasi, the Moldova region, who fought for the Union.(My grandfather went to university in Iasi...) The photo is on Wikipedia as well.

 

[major bill]

Ainataei is correct that this is photo of Nicolae Dunca. It is said that this was taken during the American Civil War. However, although the photo could be him as a Captain in the 12th New York Infantry but it would be an odd uniform for an officer in the 12th New York Infantry. I think it has a European-Austrian-Hungering-Romanian look.

Captain Dunca could have had this uniform made up in New York and based it on a uniform he wore in Europe. Or this may be a Romanian uniform he brought with him or even a photo taken in Europe before he came to the United States.

Officers in the U.S. Army had some freedom to purchase and wear uniforms of their choice but Union Captains would have been expected to more or less wear standard officer uniforms. The image below would probably not be a uniform Dunca could have worn for too long as a Union officer. To me the image bellow shows a Austrian-Hungering-Romanian uniform or a uniform based on Austrian-Hungering-Romanian uniforms. The cap, the trousers, and the jacket appeared to be based on Austrian-Hungering-Romanian uniforms

Regardless, this is an interesting uniform if it was being worn by a Union officer.

 

[major bill]

Compare Dunca's uniform with the uniform worn in image in post number 1. The image in post number 1 should show the uniform being worn by a foreign observer reporting on the American Civil War. The image in post number 1 has some similarities with the image of Dunca.

 

[Ainatari]

Looks like it could be Romanian...I'm not too familiar with that sort of thing! I should look it up! If the movie Pentru Patrie is correct then the Romanian uniforms should be blue....at that time Romania was still under the ottoman empire...

 

[major bill]

Looking at these Romanian uniforms once again.