Seeking Possible Identification? : Graphic!

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the famous photo of dead Confederates who were photographed along the Hagerstown Pike at Sharpsburg.

These men were members of Starke's Louisiana Brigade who were made up of the following units.

10th Louisiana Infantry
15th Louisiana Infantry
1st Louisiana (Zouaves) Infantry Battalion
1st Louisiana Volunteer Infantry
2nd Louisiana Infantry
9th Louisiana Infantry

In the photograph there is the body of a Confederate sergeant. So I did some research and narrowed it down to the following men.

Antietam: Sgt A. B. C. Davis

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Sgt Samuel Kearney

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Pvt Philip Georges

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Sgt George F. Richardson

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Sgt John Ryan

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Sgt Charles Henry Clay Trabue

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Sgt William T. Clack

antietam.aotw.org

Antietam: Sgt Alexander Feuga

antietam.aotw.org

Any thoughts on which soldier the unfortunate could be?

 

[Old Soldier]

It was not unknown for soldiers to sew up gold or silver into their jackets, either in the lining or in a sewn up inside pocket. If captured and imprisoned, it could make life that bit better. If there was a bulge in the jacket, especially of square or round appearance, there is always someone who will investigate - especially if the jacket is on a dead body. Gruesome, but possible.

If you look carefully at that enlargement, you may see that the pocket may well be inside out but obscured by the vegetation.

 

[CowCavalry]

It looks like the man in the right foreground lost his foot above the ankle.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

It looks like the man in the right foreground lost his foot above the ankle.

No he's actually barefoot.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

Don't see any cuff trim or down the front

There is at least one other soldier who has some piping on his sleeve.

 

[captaindrew]

View attachment 533799

There is at least one other soldier who has some piping on his sleeve.

Good catch, some of the Richmond jackets had that as well, they are both very similar, could be either

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

That's well spotted.

There is a detailed coverage of the various types of 'Richmond Depot Style Shell Jackets' worn throughout the war at the below link:-

Richmond Depot

The following extract from the above source describes the relevant features of the 'Type 1 Richmond Depot Shell Jacket' worn earlier in the war.

...'The linings of the jackets were usually made of a coarse common weave unbleached cotton osnaburg. These jackets were also likely to have an inside breast pocket sewn into the lining. Most jackets were made with a 9 button front, with cuff size buttons on the shoulder straps....'

That's a great source!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

No he's actually barefoot.

Can appreciate it appears that way from a view of the image. But thought the soldier laying in the right foreground looks to have lost his lower right leg, and is shown to be barefoot on his left leg. (To support this finding, note his two leg lengths differ in the image and there seems to be blood stains around this apparent leg wound area).

 

[rpkennedy]

It appears that Starke's Brigade was under fire from the 2nd United States Sharpshooters. They would've been targeting officers like the sergeant who I believe was Alexander Feuga of the 10th Louisiana.

The 2nd USSS were acting as line infantry at Antietam. They weren't targeting anyone in particular, especially with the smoky atmosphere that covered the early morning field during the First Corps' attack.

Ryan

 

[Nathan Stuart]

The 2nd USSS were acting as line infantry at Antietam. They weren't targeting anyone in particular, especially with the smoky atmosphere that covered the early morning field during the First Corps' attack.

Ryan

The 2nd US Sharpshooters suffered severe losses, including the serious wounding of their commander, Col. Henry Post, in the heavy line fighting in and around the Cornfield (13 officers killed and wounded; 54 enlisted men killed, wounded or missing).

(See 'OR': Vol. 19, Part I, pp. 233-34)

 

[tullock]

With regards to uniforms, Starke's brigade was very well provided for. For instance, in July 1862 the 1st La. received 280 pairs of shoes , followed by 177 jackets, 207 pairs of pants, 217 shirts, 213 pairs of drawers and 118 caps and covers on August 14th 1862. The uniforms were products of the Richmond Facility, with the jackets being 'Type IIs' in heavy gray jeans, priced at $7.50. The 9th La. were even better provided for, receiving 1,042 full uniforms in early April 1862, along with shoes, shirts and gray caps. These gray uniforms were Louisiana State issue items. The regiment received more clothing in July and August 1862, comprising 101 'uniform' jackets, 156 pairs of 'uniform' pants, as well as shoes, shirts, drawers and caps.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

With regards to uniforms, Starke's brigade was very well provided for. For instance, in July 1862 the 1st La. received 280 pairs of shoes , followed by 177 jackets, 207 pairs of pants, 217 shirts, 213 pairs of drawers and 118 caps and covers on August 14th 1862. The uniforms were products of the Richmond Facility, with the jackets being 'Type IIs' in heavy gray jeans, priced at $7.50. The 9th La. were even better provided for, receiving 1,042 full uniforms in early April 1862, along with shoes, shirts and gray caps. These gray uniforms were Louisiana State issue items. The regiment received more clothing in July and August 1862, comprising 101 'uniform' jackets, 156 pairs of 'uniform' pants, as well as shoes, shirts, drawers and caps.

I stand corrected! Looks like the sergeant is wearing a type II then.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

What do you all think of my assumption that the sergeant is Alexander Feuga?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

I stand corrected! Looks like the sergeant is wearing a type II then.

That makes sense.

From the link included in post # 19 above, it says the Type II jacket was 'without a doubt the most prevalent govt. issue uniform in the ANV from the fall of 1862 until the summer of 1864.'

The referenced features of the Type II jacket (which seem to match the image) from this link are reproduced below:-

...'The Type II jacket shared the same basic features as the Type I including a six-piece body, a standing collar and two-piece sleeves. They also had shoulder straps and belt-loops. The type II jackets were also lined with cotton osnaburg and had an inside breast pocket. These jackets were also made with a 9-button front although a few were made with 6, 7 or 8, with 8 being the most common number after 9.'...

It's noted this above description includes an inside breast pocket.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

What do you all think of my assumption that the sergeant is Alexander Feuga?

This finding might depend on whether it can be established that the 10th. LA was the regiment forming on the left of Starke's deployed brigade line along the Hagerstown Pike at this relevant time. (This is because the pictured Confederate dead in the photograph appear to be on the extreme left of Starke's line and none of the other possibles presented belonged to the 10 LA).

Thought it's a fair bet it might be him, if the 10 LA reportedly suffered heavy casualties in Starke's formed line during this short early morning action. (The unit in the image looks like it suffered severely - suggesting the dead seen might belong to the 10 LA)

 

[tullock]

There would certainly have been a mix of uniform jackets, with some soldiers wearing garments issued earlier in the year, which may well have been 'Type Is', boasting trim on cuffs and epaulettes, confirmed by captaindrew. But, by far the most prevalent jackets would have been 'Type IIs'. During this period many regiments also received separate issues of wool trim or braid, which was added to the uniforms by the soldiers themselves or by regimental tailors. It is therefor possible that some of the 'Type IIs' had trim.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

That makes sense.

From the link included in post # 19 above, it says the Type II jacket was 'without a doubt the most prevalent govt. issue uniform in the ANV from the fall of 1862 until the summer of 1864.'

The referenced features of the Type II jacket (which seem to match the image) from this link are reproduced below:-

...'The Type II jacket shared the same basic features as the Type I including a six-piece body, a standing collar and two-piece sleeves. They also had shoulder straps and belt-loops. The type II jackets were also lined with cotton osnaburg and had an inside breast pocket. These jackets were also made with a 9-button front although a few were made with 6, 7 or 8, with 8 being the most common number after 9.'...

It's noted this above description includes an inside breast pocket.

Which leads me to believe the pocket was cut open with a knife. Suggesting he was looted.

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

This finding might depend on whether it can be established that the 10th. LA was the regiment forming on the left of Starke's deployed brigade line along the Hagerstown Pike at this relevant time. (This is because the pictured Confederate dead in the photograph appear to be on the extreme left of Starke's line and none of the other possibles presented belonged to the 10 LA).

Thought it's a fair bet it might be him, if the 10 LA reportedly suffered heavy casualties in Starke's formed line during this short early morning action. (The unit in the image looks like it suffered severely - suggesting the dead seen might belong to the 10 LA)

And if that's true then that would suggest that the dead Confederate sergeant is in fact Alexander Feuga. Since the 10th Louisiana reported him as killed at Sharpsburg and he was the only sergeant in the regiment that was killed.

The casualties for the 10th Louisiana Infantry at Sharpsburg was as follows.
___

This finding might depend on whether it can be established that the 10th. LA was the regiment forming on the left of Starke's deployed brigade line along the Hagerstown Pike at this relevant time. (This is because the pictured Confederate dead in the photograph appear to be on the extreme left of Starke's line and none of the other possibles presented belonged to the 10 LA).

Thought it's a fair bet it might be him, if the 10 LA reportedly suffered heavy casualties in Starke's formed line during this short early morning action. (The unit in the image looks like it suffered severely - suggesting the dead seen might belong to the 10 LA)

And if that's true then that would suggest that the dead Confederate sergeant is in fact Alexander Feuga. Since the 10th Louisiana reported him as killed at Sharpsburg and he was the only sergeant in the regiment that was killed.

The casualties for the 10th Louisiana Infantry at Sharpsburg was 75 men. That's both killed and wounded.

I found this regimental history and I think it might be helpful.

A Frenchman, a chaplain, a rebel : the war letters of Pere Louis-Hippolyte Gache, S.J. : Gache, Louis-Hippolyte, 1817-1907 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Bibliography: p. 268-283

archive.org

 

[rpkennedy]

And if that's true then that would suggest that the dead Confederate sergeant is in fact Alexander Feuga. Since the 10th Louisiana reported him as killed at Sharpsburg and he was the only sergeant in the regiment that was killed.

I see two other sergeants in the 10th as having been killed at Antietam.

Joseph Joyce, Co. D
Louis Aarons, Co. F

There were also 4 in the 1st Louisiana, 2 or 3 in the 2nd Louisiana, 1 in the 9th Louisiana, and 2 in the 15th Louisiana. Considering we aren't sure about who was where on the brigade line, this particular soldier could be any one of these men.

Ryan

 

[gbeardsley]

so thankful this has finally caught some traction, ive been looking into this for about a year and a half. these soldiers. W.E. moore of the first louisiana mentions his regt was on the extreme left of starkes line and given this information do you think it could be a sergeant belonging to the 1st?

edit:
bottom of the page is the account by W.E. moore mentioned above
Reminiscences of the Boys in Gray, 1861-1865 Page: 536

 

[gbeardsley]

i remember reading a account in "I Dread the Thought of the Place" from oli claffey of the 10th louisiana mentioning how he had to leave his friend, sgt joseph joyce at the fence who was shot in the side.