Uniform ID

[JohnBJr]

Was wondering if anybody can ID this uniform.
Pretty sure he was a confederate soldier. We think in the 34th Alabama Infantry.
The uniform in the painting does not look confederate to me. I would not think a confederate would allow
artistic license of this degree.

 

[TerryB]

Many Alabama units, as well as other states, started the war wearing blue uniforms.

 

[RedRover]

Was wondering if anybody can ID this uniform.
Pretty sure he was a confederate soldier. We think in the 34th Alabama Infantry.
The uniform in the painting does not look confederate to me. I would not think a confederate would allow
artistic license of this degree.

View attachment 590032

Looks consistent with the pre-and-early war uniform of an Alabama Volunteer Militia company, perhaps organized into the Alabama Volunteer Corps in in 1861, etc.

Examples of Alabama uniforms, ca. 1861, of similar pattern. At left the "Auburn Guards" (in 1861 served with the 1st Alabama and later with the 37th Alabama Volunteers); and at right the "Montgomery True Blues"... which served with the 4th Alabama Volunteers, CSA.

Below, at left, uniform of the "Autauga Rifles" which served with the 6th Alabama Volunteer Regiment. And at right, a corporal with the 30th Alabama with "AVC" (For Alabama Volunteer Corps) on his cap...

 

[Rhea Cole]

The outline of Grant's haircut in this photo rang a bell. Note the buttons up against the collar.

Grant was very camera shy. For such an important figure there are a remarkably small number of images of him.

This drawing of Grant at Chattanooga Adolph Metzner is the only image from life made during that period of time.

I think the image in question is a grossly overpainted copy of Grant as a Major General.

In this image the four button pattern indicates a Lieutenant General.

My supposition is that in order to sell sets of famous individuals, a Major General photo was used to create an imagined Lieutenant General uniform.

No doubt the impressive array of buttons from a militia uniform from like RedRover's post was the inspiration. The hair poofing out over his ears is a profile that sprang to mind.

 

[R. Porter]

I don't think he's Grant. His nose looks too small and beard does not come up to bottom lip. He does look similar and the haircut looks the same.

 

[Rhea Cole]

I don't think he's Grant. His nose looks too small and beard does not come up to bottom lip. He does look similar and the haircut looks the same.

This image was not made by a gifted artist.

FYI: Winslow Homer's definition of a portrait is a painting where the nose doesn't look right.