Two different soldiers, or the same?

[Patrick H]

I have sent these to many friends, but I don't believe I've posted here yet. If I have, please forgive me.

I found the first photo on Facebook. It just popped up at random and it's unidentified. It shows a Union cavalry trooper posed with his saber on a rocky overlook which I believe is Lookout Mountain. The second photo was on my aunt's living room wall, and is believed to be an ancestor from Howard County, Missouri who is known to have enlisted in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (Merrill's Horse) and who served on detached duty guarding trains. He was discharged at Chattanooga. I am sure it is a post war photo.

Note the two hairlines, the steely eyes, extremely narrow mouth and pointed chin. Note the huge hands. Coincidence? Most likely, but I think the resemblance is remarkable, and it is REMOTELY possible that we are seeing the same soldier here.

What do you think?

 

[captaindrew]

Nice photos, sure looks similar to me.

 

[Story]

... the way he crosses his legs.​

 

[Patrick H]

... the way he crosses his legs.​

I hadn't noticed that but I'm glad you pointed it out. It's really uncannily similar. Thank you!

As I continue to look between the two, I see a very similar grim, determined facial expression in both pictures. These guys (or this guy) have seen some warfare.

 

[John Hartwell]

Similar eyes, but differently shaped faces. The first has higher cheekbones & a narrower jaw.
Need evidence from provenance etc ... "looks sorta like" isn't enough.

 

[Booner]

I was able to put the pictures next to each other, and I can't say they aren't or are the same person. The one sitting on the rocks looks a bit older, but I couldn't enlarge the picture.

 

[debwallsmith]

I have sent these to many friends, but I don't believe I've posted here yet. If I have, please forgive me.

I found the first photo on Facebook. It just popped up at random and it's unidentified. It shows a Union cavalry trooper posed with his saber on a rocky overlook which I believe is Lookout Mountain. The second photo was on my aunt's living room wall, and is believed to be an ancestor from Howard County, Missouri who is known to have enlisted in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (Merrill's Horse) and who served on detached duty guarding trains. He was discharged at Chattanooga. I am sure it is a post war photo.

Note the two hairlines, the steely eyes, extremely narrow mouth and pointed chin. Note the huge hands. Coincidence? Most likely, but I think the resemblance is remarkable, and it is REMOTELY possible that we are seeing the same soldier here.

What do you think?View attachment 465853
View attachment 465854

While they look alike, the hairlines are different. Photo 1 has a widow's peak. There are people who specialize in facial recognition. I don't have any recommendations but I'm sure you can google those experts and get some help. Good luck.

 

[Patrick H]

Similar eyes, but differently shaped faces. The first has higher cheekbones & a narrower jaw.
Need evidence from provenance etc ... "looks sorta like" isn't enough.

Yes. As I said at the outset, there is no provenance or identification on the "rocks" photo. And I said it's most most likely a coincidence. I think the chances of this being the same person are extremely remote. All that said, I don't agree with you about the shape of their faces. I see them as very, very similar. I would like a better view of the ears on the rocks picture, but it's impossible. Whoever posted this on FB made a very low resolution scan. There is no hope of enlarging this little JPG.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Think there are too many similarities observed between the two subjects to ignore or treat as mere coincidence.

Similarities, not identicals, include:

. hair and hairline

. long facial shape and pointed chin

. facial features

. body frame and physique

. way of leg crossing

. uniform worn.

Think there are enough similarities here, to conclude, without any certainty, that it's more likely than not, that the two subjects are the same person.

Additionally, it's mentioned that the first photo is believed to have been taken at Lookout Mountain and the figure in the second photo is known to have served in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (Merrill's Horse). Interestingly, this Cavalry unit moved to Chattanooga, TN, in early 1865, before being mustered out during Sept. of that same year. (The placement of this particular unit fits with the descriptions given).

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

Yes. As I said at the outset, there is no provenance or identification on the "rocks" photo. And I said it's most most likely a coincidence. I think the chances of this being the same person are extremely remote. All that said, I don't agree with you about the shape of their faces. I see them as very, very similar. I would like a better view of the ears on the rocks picture, but it's impossible. Whoever posted this on FB made a very low resolution scan. There is no hope of enlarging this little JPG.

Have you tried contacting the person who posted the Lookout Mountain photo on FB to see what, if anything, they know about it? Even if they don't know the soldier's identity, maybe they have some clues about its source or origins.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Similar eyes, but differently shaped faces. The first has higher cheekbones & a narrower jaw.
Need evidence from provenance etc ... "looks sorta like" isn't enough.

I made similar observations. The nose is different too. But I can see why you might ask for opinions...there is a good degree of similarity.

 

[Patrick H]

Have you tried contacting the person who posted the Lookout Mountain photo on FB to see what, if anything, they know about it? Even if they don't know the soldier's identity, maybe they have some clues about its source or origins.

I wish I had made note of that, but I was so intrigued that I just captured the photo and dropped it on my desktop so I could look at it again later, and then FB moved on. I can't even swear it wasn't used in a pop up promotion of some kind. It was several weeks ago. I suppose I could dedicate a long evening to scrolling just to see if it would pop up again. But thanks for the suggestion.

 

[bankerpapaw]

I have sent these to many friends, but I don't believe I've posted here yet. If I have, please forgive me.

I found the first photo on Facebook. It just popped up at random and it's unidentified. It shows a Union cavalry trooper posed with his saber on a rocky overlook which I believe is Lookout Mountain. The second photo was on my aunt's living room wall, and is believed to be an ancestor from Howard County, Missouri who is known to have enlisted in the 2nd Missouri Cavalry (Merrill's Horse) and who served on detached duty guarding trains. He was discharged at Chattanooga. I am sure it is a post war photo.

Note the two hairlines, the steely eyes, extremely narrow mouth and pointed chin. Note the huge hands. Coincidence? Most likely, but I think the resemblance is remarkable, and it is REMOTELY possible that we are seeing the same soldier here.

What do you think?View attachment 465853
View attachment 465854

They surely do favor.