TerryB
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2008
- Location
- Nashville TN
Recently sent to me as a scan by a researcher who thought it might be my avatar, Col. Marcellus Pointer. I don't think it is Pointer. Any guesses? No back mark or other identifying text.
But are you really sure? Don't hold back.Absolutely 100% not Marcellus. Nope. No way. Nice uniform and nice looking man, but nope.
I did wonder if it could be another Pointer.....'cause it's sure not Marcellus. Even. Not close.But are you really sure? Don't hold back.
And there's no hard evidence that MP was ever a major. He's called a lieutenant all the way through the OR until he makes Lt. Col.One star does not a colonel make.
I've considered that he might be a Pointer, but I can account for all of them that I know of and what they looked like, except for one who was a private.I did wonder if it could be another Pointer.....'cause it's sure not Marcellus. Even. Not close.
My sense is that this is early war--1861-62, but copied from an original some time in the 1870s.I can't say about the man - but can definitely say he's wearing the rank insignia of a major and is carrying a Mlle. An IX or An XI Sabre pour Cavalrie Legere! Those were regulation in Napoleon's army from 1802 or 1804 to 1816 for officers and troopers of what Europeans termed light cavalry: Hussars, Chasseurs, or Lanciers. While recently reading about Second Manassas I noticed a photograph of a Confederate colonel there showing him armed with the Mlle. An XII Lourde or heavy cavalry saber. And of course, Maj. Heros von Borke of Jeb Stuart's staff carried his own Prussian model dragoon saber.
Edit: For some reason, Federal Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell is always pictured with an Austrian cavalry saber!
No cigar, though.Here's one I found online, ID=View attachment 76442 Major Thompson. It's close.
I'll keep lookin.'No cigar, though.
Here's one I found online, ID=View attachment 76442 Major Thompson. It's close.
No, just the name. Could he be Jeff Thompson?Did it give a full name or unit with that image of a Major Thompson?
PS, it's at the Alabama Archives website.No, just the name. Could he be Jeff Thompson?
PS, it's at the Alabama Archives website.
Some of the info in the article at MP's memorial is inaccurate.Picture of Marcellus Pointer
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=57469134&df=all&
Picture of John Baker Thompson!!!
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...=1862&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=13276924&df=all&