Unknown Confederate Major Nice Uniform

[TerryB]

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.

 

[TerryB]

Guess I need to rotate it 90 degrees.

 

[Nathanb1]

Absolutely 100% not Marcellus. Nope. No way. Nice uniform and nice looking man, but nope.

 

[TerryB]

Absolutely 100% not Marcellus. Nope. No way. Nice uniform and nice looking man, but nope.

But are you really sure? Don't hold back.

 

[Nathanb1]

But are you really sure? Don't hold back.

I did wonder if it could be another Pointer.....'cause it's sure not Marcellus. Even. Not close.

 

[James N.]

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!

 

[ole]

One star does not a colonel make.

 

[TerryB]

One star does not a colonel make.

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.

 

[TerryB]

I did wonder if it could be another Pointer.....'cause it's sure not Marcellus. Even. Not close.

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.

 

[TerryB]

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!

My sense is that this is early war--1861-62, but copied from an original some time in the 1870s.

 

[TerryB]

Here's one I found online, ID=

Major Thompson. It's close.

 

[Northern Light]

Here's one I found online, ID=View attachment 76442 Major Thompson. It's close.

No cigar, though.

 

[TerryB]

No cigar, though.

I'll keep lookin.'

 

[TerryB]

Just learned that the photo of the unknown major was owned by Dabney Minor Scales of the CS navy. That increases the chances that it was of someone from the Memphis or Holly Springs area. Too bad it's not Marcellus, but all comments so far agree with me that it's not.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Here's one I found online, ID=View attachment 76442 Major Thompson. It's close.

Did it give a full name or unit with that image of a Major Thompson?

 

[TerryB]

Did it give a full name or unit with that image of a Major Thompson?

No, just the name. Could he be Jeff Thompson?

 

[TerryB]

No, just the name. Could he be Jeff Thompson?

PS, it's at the Alabama Archives website.

 

[Frederick14Va]

PS, it's at the Alabama Archives website.

Ok thanks... it was a long shot...lol... have one ancestor that was a Thompson (John Baker Thompson) that was a Major then later Lt.Colonel.. killed at Shiloh... Knew there is an image of him existing, but has been elusive to locate a copy of it...

 

[tryagain]

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&

 

[TerryB]

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&

Some of the info in the article at MP's memorial is inaccurate.