Union soldier goofing around

[Saruman]

Interesting photo! Let's hope they didn't fire. Is that a buzzard on the cannon?

It was apparently taken at Battery Rodgers near Alexandria.

 

[rpkennedy]

I've seen the bird described as an eagle but I'm no expert.

Ryan

 

[Sheltowee]

Perhaps a mascot.

 

[Sheltowee]

And I can see an NCO saying- "so you fancy the inside of the barrel, eh? Let's see if we can scratch that itch by you cleaning them all."

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Perhaps a mascot.

Could this be ….

Old Abe Wisconsin’s War Eagle – Wisconsin Veterans Museum

wisvetsmuseum.com

 

[Robert Gray]

Same scene. A slightly different pose.

 

[Saruman]

Same scene. A slightly different pose.

View attachment 538540

A much clearer photo - thanks for posting!

 

[Saruman]

Could this be ….

Old Abe Wisconsin’s War Eagle – Wisconsin Veterans Museum

wisvetsmuseum.com

In September 1864, the state of Wisconsin took possession of Old Abe and reclassified him as a "War Relic."

 

[R. Porter]

Is that guy in the second photo holding a leash? Is he out walking his eagle?

 

[Nathan Stuart]

If that bird is an eagle, then apart from the 8th. WI (that served in the western theater), am unaware of any other Union regiment adopting a live eagle mascot. Judging by the band noticed around the animal's lower right leg (as well as the lead seen in the second photo), seems the bird may have been someone's personal pet that was put into the scene.

 

[Northern Light]

It isn't a bald eagle, at any rate.

 

[Stryker65]

And I can see an NCO saying- "so you fancy the inside of the barrel, eh? Let's see if we can scratch that itch by you cleaning them all."

Speaking from experience?

 

[Allyn]

It isn't a bald eagle, at any rate.

Could be a bald eagle. They don't get the white head feathers until about age 5, and until then, they look just like a large dark brown bird.

 

[Northern Light]

Could be a bald eagle. They don't get the white head feathers until about age 5, and until then, they look just like a large dark brown bird.

I stand corrected!

 

[Robert Gray]

The National Archives has an original negative (NARA-529429).

 

[7thWisconsin]

That would be a fun diorama!

 

[R. Porter]

Who's hat is that on the ground to the left?

 

[Northern Light]

Who's hat is that on the ground to the left?

The guy on the far, FAR right...no farther still!

 

[7thWisconsin]

I just keep thinking how much of a skinny, no-hips jack-straw the guy in the cannon has to be. I mean: my head will fit in the muzzle, but my shoulders sure won´t. And you couldn´t get my butt to fit in there with a shoehorn! He must be so skinny that if he turns sideways he disappears.

 

[rebelatsea]

Is that guy in the second photo holding a leash? Is he out walking his eagle?

If he is the handler, he would be wearing at least one gauntlet / glove.