Tintype Tuesday #7

[Manassas 1861]

An unidentified Union soldier laying on the floor, with frock coat, rifle, haversack, and knapsack. LOC.

 

[Package4]

An unidentified Union soldier laying on the floor, with frock coat, rifle, haversack, and knapsack. LOC.View attachment 506659

What a great photograph, we can date this as no earlier than September of '62 by the Gratz canteen. The boots are puzzling and no doubt a very new recruit with all of his newly issued gear; the riding boots will most likely be sent home very soon. He even has a tompion in his 1861 Springfield.

 

[Pollaco]

Didn't I see a granite version of that on a Yankee Monument somewhere? You sure he wasn't maybe posing for a sculpter ?

 

[lupaglupa]

That's quite the pose, not what you usually see.

 

[Bentonville]

I've seen it before in photos of old brass bands, the bassist seemed to be the guy 'holding it down'. There were photos like that from WW1, with man in the background who ended up a historical 'issue' in the 30s-40s.

 

[R. Porter]

I noticed the boots too. Mounted infantry or just a poor choice by a new recruit?

 

[Pollaco]

I noticed the boots too. Mounted infantry or just a poor choice by a new recruit?

I bet he cussed them boots after a few days of marching.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Great unusual pose! And right in front is that cup through the haversack strap that the stitch counter reenactors are always saying is ¨over-represented!¨ That looks like an overcoat rolled on the knapsack, too.

 

[Old Soldier]

As usual for me, reversed and brightened up. He appears to have reversed the 'E' (company) on his cap, but all his equipment is 'as worn'.

 

[Pollaco]

We know photographers kept props on hand but did they have reversed company letters as well? Puzzled as to why or how the soldier reversed the "E" to make it "readable".I thought at first the original
picture in the opening post was "reversed". But Old Soldier's
reversed picture in post #9 does have the rifle's lock on the right side so it would be what the lens actually saw. So who do you think made the E backwards , the soldier or the photographer?

 

[R. Porter]

Is that a tampion sticking out of the end of the barrel?

 

[Manassas 1861]

Is that a tampion sticking out of the end of the barrel?

Yep

 

[Old Soldier]

We know photographers kept props on hand but did they have reversed company letters as well? Puzzled as to why or how the soldier reversed the "E" to make it "readable".I thought at first the original
picture in the opening post was "reversed". But Old Soldier's
reversed picture in post #9 does have the rifle's lock on the right side so it would be what the lens actually saw. So who do you think made the E backwards , the soldier or the photographer?

At a guess, behind the letter, there will be a single pin with a 'keeper', or even a split pin. All he had to do was turn it 180 degrees. He will have been 'advised' by the photographer.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Leather canteen strap too. He´s the poster child for the early war.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Great unusual pose! And right in front is that cup through the haversack strap that the stitch counter reenactors are always saying is ¨over-represented!¨ That looks like an overcoat rolled on the knapsack, too.

Oh yes, don't you just love the stitch Nazzees. I started reenacting and living history back in 1976. Its funny because over the years some of the things I chose to wear or use that got me in the "authenticity hotseat" I have seen many examples of such things in photographs and collections. Pinterest has really been my friend. Just with something like long military sache coats I have stowed away many example photographs in that category in my account. I got put on the spot often by those incredibly unhappy people.
I believe you are correct about that overcoat. I wonder if that was discarded at the same time as those boots?
Cheers!