That's a long beard!

[Mike Serpa]

hmm, maybe....

Steele's beard seems to be a bit greyer, and his face is more narrow, but the CDV could be a later shot?

Well, if it's him I think he cut his beard for the photo I posted.

Maybe they forced him to trim it eventually? Like, when he got promoted?

Do you think both photos are Steele? A good assumption you made.

 

[GS]

Welcome, from the heart of Alabama!

 

[perryman]

thanks for all the input!

Frederick Steele might be the answer, here's a full-length I found of him (on the left):

 

[Belle Montgomery]

Welcome!

 

[James N.]

Good morning gentlemen

Recently acquired some CDVs, and I couldn't quite figure out who this was:

View attachment 259285

Any help is appreciated, thanks ahead!

no, it's blank

I figure it's a higher ranking (Union) officer, perhaps a Brigadier general (?) due to the fancy epaulettes and the longer beard, but I just can't match the face or beard to anyone

Albert Jenkins had an epic beard, but he was Confederate...McAllister had a long beard too, but he had a much thinner hairline than the pictured officer

Barring any remarkable luck, I doubt identification is possible, based on appearance alone. The subject appears to be a typical Union junior officer (captain or lieutenant) showing off his full-dress uniform. Senior officers (major through generals) wore double-breasted frock coats and I think this one is single-breasted; also, he's carrying the usual Sword for Foot Officers appropriate to junior ranks. The detachable epaulettes were only worn in full dress situations; otherwise, he's dressed normally. Edit: Even the youngest junior officer should still have full dress epaulettes in the Regular Army; and it isn't Frederick Steele!

Welcome to the forums!

 

[MRB1863]

Much much longer than my beard...but "beardwise" reminds me of Albert Jenkins

 

[perryman]

Barring any remarkable luck, I doubt identification is possible, based on appearance alone. The subject appears to be a typical Union junior officer (captain or lieutenant) showing off his full-dress uniform. Senior officers (major through generals) wore double-breasted frock coats and I think this one is single-breasted; also, he's carrying the usual Sword for Foot Officers appropriate to junior ranks. The detachable epaulettes were only worn in full dress situations; otherwise, he's dressed normally. Edit: Even the youngest junior officer should still have full dress epaulettes in the Regular Army; and it isn't Frederick Steele!

Welcome to the forums!

would a junior officer have grown/been allowed to have such a long beard?

seems like a beard of waist-length would've been more apropos for a higher ranking officer

 

[James N.]

would a junior officer have grown/been to have allowed such a long beard?

seems like a beard of waist-length would've been more apropos for a higher ranking officer

Regulations only called for beards to be kept neat and well-trimmed - there was nothing about length during the war, though later in the century long beards went out of fashion except for definitely old geezers like Civil War vets, etc.

 

[Cranchris31]

Appropriate ad!

 

[donna]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[ErnieMac]

Welcome from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Antietam / Sharpsburg Forum. I cannot help with this identification. From my reading I know that the diameter of the fringe strands on the epaulette. I've attached a photo from The Quartermaster Shop that shows some detail. The three grades would be 1st and 2nd Lieutenant (1/8" dia.), Captain (1/4" dia.), and Major and above (1/2" dia.). Perhaps that will give a hint as to the individuals rank. I think, from the photo, the individual is a lieutenant.