Site For Civil War Portrait Photos?

scooter748driver

First Sergeant
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Having recently acquired some Civil War era guns, I would like to supplement my collection with representative pictures of a soldier (Union of Confederate) holding the type of gun in a portrait picture. I have searched online but seems that the most prolific number of pictures is on Ebay.

Is there a web site where I could see various era portrait photographs and look for ones with specific weapons being held or carried by the soldier?

Thank you
 
Try the LOC. They have the originals....
Thank you. I searched the LOC site and found several with both Union and Confederate soldiers posing with a wide variety of weapons. Some of the ones posing with weapons that I have in my very very small “collection.” Although I’m sure most here have seen hundreds or thousands of similar photos I found these fascinating (not just because of the weapons but because of the unknown history of these individuals; What did they see? What did they do? Did they survive the war?)

I shared some of the pictures I found below in case others would like to see ”their” particular weapon in the hands of those who used them.



UNION CAVALRYMAN W/MODEL 1840 SABER
80495C90-C821-45B9-9469-5437AFA0811D.jpeg


CONFEDERATE CAVALRYMAN W/MODEL 1840 SABER (I think)
415973ba-6ff2-4b5e-a409-1dd4c08105f4-jpeg.jpg


UNION SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER
7F4938E3-701D-49DD-83D1-B205AA310FCA.jpeg


UNION SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER
1241c305-d8a4-4b67-a368-0aaf7a91ec22-jpeg.jpg


CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER (I think)
1226163B-88A3-4D83-B41A-CA52CE9FC91A.jpeg


CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1851 REVOLVER
D7493D52-8CEE-456F-8D56-2CCBC5B7FCF4.jpeg


UNION OFFICER W/SAVAGE NAVY REVOLVER
D8A9187A-B453-4F97-A47D-F4CD215071DA.jpeg


CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/SAVAGE NAVY REVOLVER
91941885-B71D-4B60-AB12-9C969AA70298.jpeg


415973BA-6FF2-4B5E-A409-1DD4C08105F4.jpeg


1241C305-D8A4-4B67-A368-0AAF7A91EC22.jpeg
 
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... I shared some of the pictures I found below in case others would like to see ”their” particular weapon in the hands of those who used them.

... CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER (I think)

... CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1851 REVOLVER

... UNION OFFICER W/SAVAGE NAVY REVOLVER

... CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/SAVAGE NAVY REVOLVER
Of course it's almost impossible using period photos like these to determine differences between genuine Colt .36 "Navys" and all the many copies of them. Your second example however looks too small to be an actual .36 Navy revolver and is more likely a .31 so-called pocket model with a 6" barrel or one of its copies. The last two holding the Savages are neither officers nor Confederates: The first is a Federal cavalryman wearing the regulation enlisted man's shell jacket, including the seldom-seen-in-photos enlisted man's brass shoulder scales; the second Federal cavalryman is somewhat incongruously wearing a faded four-button sack coat or fatigue jacket with the full-dress Hardee or Jeff Davis Hat.
 
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Thank you for the clarifications and corrections! Although a student of the Civil War for many years it's obvious that my knowledge does not extend to uniforms (and just barely into weapons) - but that's why I love this site, there's always more to learn!
 
Thank you. I searched the LOC site and found several with both Union and Confederate soldiers posing with a wide variety of weapons. Some of the ones posing with weapons that I have in my very very small “collection.” Although I’m sure most here have seen hundreds or thousands of similar photos I found these fascinating (not just because of the weapons but because of the unknown history of these individuals; What did they see? What did they do? Did they survive the war?)

I shared some of the pictures I found below in case others would like to see ”their” particular weapon in the hands of those who used them.



UNION CAVALRYMAN W/MODEL 1840 SABER
View attachment 420063

CONFEDERATE CAVALRYMAN W/MODEL 1840 SABER (I think)
View attachment 420079

UNION SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER
View attachment 420066

UNION SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER
View attachment 420080

CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER (I think)
View attachment 420067

CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/COLT MODEL 1851 REVOLVER
View attachment 420068

UNION OFFICER W/SAVAGE NAVY REVOLVER
View attachment 420071

CONFEDERATE SOLDIER W/SAVAGE NAVY REVOLVER
View attachment 420072

View attachment 420064

View attachment 420069
Great pictures. Very early on in gun safety classes they tell you never to put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to soot. From looking at a lot of ACW images, I get the strong feeling that was never taught!
 
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