Unit identification

[UCVRelics]

This style was very popular with militia units during this time period.

 

[lelliott19]

Looks like the number on the badge is either an 8 or a 9?

 

[mofederal]

I could not make it out at all, it just looked like a number of some sort to me.

 

[major bill]

After I blew up the image, it looks like a flaming bomb over a wreath or badge. The man holding the bugle looks like he is wearing engineer castles on his collars. He is also wearing a medal, which might be might actually be shooting badge/medal. It has a weird hanger though.

To me they look like marksman's buttons. Based on my believe that he wears a 1884-pattern blouse, I am going with "Blunt" marksman's buttons, but if anyone can see the older "Laidley" marksman's buttons I would not disagree too much. For those who do not know 1885 Blunt marksman's buttons have oval target circles and 1880 Laidley marksman's buttons have round target circles.

 

[major bill]

The cross belt plates seem to have "5" on them.

 

[major bill]

Blunt marksman's button worn on the collars.

 

[Billw12280]

That is very nice. I like the uniforms a lot. I used to work for a museum in Missouri, so I am more familiar with here, but I love to learn more about militia and national guard units. Thanks for posting the uniforms. The shako that I posted that looks green is listed as being from 1872.

The uniforms are definitely an amazing piece of history. Both of mine have the soldiers names written inside but unfortunately I have not been able to find out anything about them.

 

[Billw12280]

This style was very popular with militia units during this time period.

Which makes me wonder when did the uniforms become "uniform"?

 

[Billw12280]

Looks like the number on the badge is either an 8 or a 9?
View attachment 161685

I'm not entirely sure because it is hard to make out but I believe the crossbelt and shako both displayed the regiment #. If that's the case the shako plate should be a 5?

 

[Billw12280]

To me they look like marksman's buttons. Based on my believe that he wears a 1884-pattern blouse, I am going with "Blunt" marksman's buttons, but if anyone can see the older "Laidley" marksman's buttons I would not disagree too much. For those who do not know 1885 Blunt marksman's buttons have oval target circles and 1880 Laidley marksman's buttons have round target circles.

This helps to narrow down a timeframe for when the picture was taken. I knew it was between 1873 due to the Trapdoor Springfield rifles and 1889 due to the headgear. Now with the 1884 pattern blouse identification we can say 1884-1889, possibly later depending on when the unit changed to the newer headgear.

 

[major bill]

Unless this unit wore the 1874 blouse without piping. Militia units did not always follow Army style, but the lack of piping cause me to believe that the this blouse is based on the 1884 pattern.

The medal appears to be a state medal. There is a book that shows almost all state medals. The problem is the huge number of state medal images one must go through.

 

[Billw12280]

Unless this unit wore the 1874 blouse without piping. Militia units did not always follow Army style, but the lack of piping cause me to believe that the this blouse is based on the 1884 pattern.

The medal appears to be a state medal. There is a book that shows almost all state medals. The problem is the huge number of state medal images one must go through.

This is the closest I could find via a Google search. It is not quite the same but it appears to be pretty close. As somebody else already observed the hanger is a little different.

 

[Billw12280]

Unless this unit wore the 1874 blouse without piping. Militia units did not always follow Army style, but the lack of piping cause me to believe that the this blouse is based on the 1884 pattern.

The medal appears to be a state medal. There is a book that shows almost all state medals. The problem is the huge number of state medal images one must go through.

I just noticed he only has two buttons on the cuff. Didn't they change to 3 cuff buttons on the 1884 blouse? Not that this is a tell tale sign, maybe he lost a button. But it may push this back to an earlier date?

 

[LtRusell]

The medal the officer is wearing might be a clue.

 

[major bill]

I just noticed he only has two buttons on the cuff. Didn't they change to 3 cuff buttons on the 1884 blouse? Not that this is a tell tale sign, maybe he lost a button. But it may push this back to an earlier date?

Could be, but militia units did not always follow Army regulstions. A real help would be if we could either get a good look at the collar insignia. I am half convinced he wears marksman's buttons. The difference being the "Blunt" buttons did not come out until 1885. However militiamen could have retained the 1880 Laidlaw buttons for several years after the Army switched marksman's buttons.

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

They look like Raoul Walsh's "They died with their boots on " West Point cadets (first part of the movie), they just look at, they are surely not...

 

[MAJOR DUNDEE]

 

[Billw12280]

Could be, but militia units did not always follow Army regulstions. A real help would be if we could either get a good look at the collar insignia. I am half convinced he wears marksman's buttons. The difference being the "Blunt" buttons did not come out until 1885. However militiamen could have retained the 1880 Laidlaw buttons for several years after the Army switched marksman's buttons.

The seller is cleaning up an image to send me a digital copy so hopefully I will be able to upload a better picture that can provide us some additional information. I agree the collar insignia could be marksman buttons, especially in conjunction with the probable marksman medal he is wearing.

 

[Billw12280]

I was able to get a better image from the negative. There were an additional 3 soldiers pictured. Unfortunately it did not give much more to go on. I have attached both the negative and the updated image so if anyone would like to work their magic be my guest.