Drum and Guidon
Using his drum as a stool, this boy served in a New York City militia organization, as evidenced by the pompon ornament at the top of his dress cap. It
Category: Antebellum Warriors
Hussar Influence
A mounted trooper wears an early French dragoon-style helmet with a brass visor and scale chinstrap distinguished by an 1820-style federal eagle on the crest. The uniform suggests a Hussar
Rainy Day Wheel Cap
This Pattern 1839 “wheel” cap worn by an unidentified rifleman is unusual for an add-on not typically seen: The glazed linen rain cover and the accompanying cape which extends just
A Portrait Promised to a Sister?
Compared to most of the Union’s noted Civil War generals, John Fulton Reynolds rates high for skill and ability. West Point educated and a seasoned campaigner in Mexico and the
South Carolina Militiaman?
A yard sale discovery in Florence, S.C., in the 1980s turned up this circa late 1850s image. In antebellum times, the city comprised part of Darlington District. This militiaman might
1851 Regs
The deeply lined face of this regular army captain, and his shock of white hair, indicate he is a veteran of life and military service. Details of his dress uniform
Light Blue and Cross Belts
This circa 1846 infantryman wears the light blue fatigue jacket prescribed in 1839, and holds a non-commissioned Model 1840 officer’s sword that indicates he ranked as a corporal or sergeant—though
A Prototypical Militiaman on the Eve of War
The uniform worn by this gent is relatively common among mid-19th century militiamen, which can create a conundrum when attempting to pin down his state of origin. His 1851
No Mustaches or Imperials Allowed
Sporting a beard and a hint of a smile, this naval 1st assistant engineer dresses in an 1852 regulation uniform. The general order, dated March 8, 1852, provides detailed guidelines
Paper and Sword
The rolled paper on the tabletop and sword pictured here are at the heart of a theory about the sitter in this ambrotype. The robust pommel of his sword indicates