Civil War Soldier?

James_Longstreet · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:42 am Post subject:

LOL, Jim -
While I am not going to discourage you from looking up Don's paintings - IMHO, if Bill Christen says something - it is pretty much IT.
Those who know him (incl. Eric, JD, Teei, Harry & Gerry just to name a few) will most likely confirm his reputation.
_________________
I Remain
Your Ob't Servant
Allan
Time sets all things right. Error lives but a day. Truth is eternal.
A Great Civilization is not Conquered from Without until It has Destroyed Itself from Within

GKWEAGLE1 · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:28 am Post subject:

No intention here to doubt Bill...

I do remeber a painting of one of the soldiers who looked a lot like that picture... I think its more of well, I wonder if I can find more info.....
And my own well curiostiy.

JIM
_________________
"The Flag, THE FLAG, Oh THE FLAG! G.K. Warrens last words on his death bed, August 8,1882
There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. W.T. Sherman

JnoWFairfax · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject:

Miss Laura,

From just a quick look at the originally scaned photo, he is definitely Cavalry...and the better photo of a US Cav Roundabout or Shell Jacket confirmed my suspicions. Definitely a Yankee also!

_________________
Your Humble Servant,
Jno. Walter Fairfax,
Asst. Adj. & Insp. General,
I (Longstreet's) Corps,
Army of No. Va.

"This is a hard fight, and we had better all die than lose it."
-- Genl. Longstreet to Genl. Pryor, September 17, 1862

unclelooney · Lieutenant Joined: Feb 23, 2006 Posts: 36

Any clue to his identity?

JnoWFairfax · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject:

Dear Laura;

At your convenience, would you update us on the further progress of your investigation into this particular soldier?

From what I could tell at another glance, the hacket might be post war for US Cavalry, but could also be provate contracted roundabout hacket. It is definitely a Cav jacket and Union because the three stripes on the collar are too long to be that of a CSA captain.....IMHO.

We would appreciate hearing from you also on what Bill Christen said....
_________________
Your Humble Servant,
Jno. Walter Fairfax,
Asst. Adj. & Insp. General,
I (Longstreet's) Corps,
Army of No. Va.

"This is a hard fight, and we had better all die than lose it."
-- Genl. Longstreet to Genl. Pryor, September 17, 1862

LauraAnnie · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject:

Major Fairfax,

Not much else in the way of progress. For Bill Christen's opinion, please see a few pages back. General Longstreet kindly posted an email from him.

I showed this picture to several of the knowledgeable men in my living history group. They got so excited and you should have seen how quickly the books came out and how much they poured over it! The general consensus seems to be that my fellow is indeed Civil War era, if perhaps even a bit before.

I would still love to hear anyone else's opinion on the matter.

Thanks,
~Laura

PS-- I've named him Fredrick. I think it fitting for some reason. :)
_________________
"The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

JnoWFairfax · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject:

Dear Laura;

Re reading some of the earlier posts and then reading Genl Longstreet's comments, I am comfortable that it could indeed be Pre CW pattern uniform. A really good look at the belt buckle and the saber (especially!) might halp narrow it down as well as a very good, detailed scan of the buttons on the jacket.

I might venture a guess that the saber might even be the old M1840 Enlisted saber aka "The Wristbraker" because of the hilt design. If you look at the Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union book published by TimeLife in the early 1990s, you might see a match for buckle, saber and possibly even the trowsers and jacket.

Hope this helps.............
_________________
Your Humble Servant,
Jno. Walter Fairfax,
Asst. Adj. & Insp. General,
I (Longstreet's) Corps,
Army of No. Va.

"This is a hard fight, and we had better all die than lose it."
-- Genl. Longstreet to Genl. Pryor, September 17, 1862

JnoWFairfax · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:09 pm Post subject:

Dear Laura;

Follow up to my suggestion re the gentleman's uniform jacket and TimeLife Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union (EOG Union), see pp 106-107; especially the jacket owned by D E Taft, US Cavalry, which the book's editors state as possibly being from the St. Louis Arsenal, which is on pg. 106. On pg 107 on the bottom are exaamples of jackets from the US Mounted Rifles and US Dragoons, both of which were pre War and definitely also during early War.

Do not know if this will help but if it helps point you in the right direction......

_________________
Your Humble Servant,
Jno. Walter Fairfax,
Asst. Adj. & Insp. General,
I (Longstreet's) Corps,
Army of No. Va.

"This is a hard fight, and we had better all die than lose it."
-- Genl. Longstreet to Genl. Pryor, September 17, 1862