The Answer Man for American Boundary Questions
When it came to the question of borders, Col. James Duncan Graham was the military’s go-to engineer for answers. For the better part of the first half of the 19th
Category: Antebellum Warriors
Foundation of the Rock
Wise. Calm. Self-poised. Steadfast. These words were used by a comrade and biographer of George Henry Thomas to describe the venerable soldier long after he had been christened with the
An Early West Point Graduate
Daniel D. Tompkins arrived at the U.S. Military Academy in 1814 with an aptitude for learning and a well-known namesake—his uncle, the governor of New York, who would soon serve
The Uniform That Demoralized a Regiment
This Brooklynite in the 14th Regiment, New York State Militia, is dressed in a newly designed uniform that had unexpected consequences. A brigade inspector reported on Oct. 18, 1858: “This
A Militiaman and His Mississippi Rifle
A thin-bearded volunteer poses with all the trappings of a militiaman. He is a private—don’t be tricked by the officer’s shoulder straps on his uniform, which are purely decorative. His
One of the “Master Spirits” of the War
The first real indication that Micah Jenkins was destined for military greatness came not on the battlefield, but inside the classroom. As a Citadel cadet, the South Carolinian rose to
A Militiaman of a Different Stripe
At first glance, the rank insignia worn by this soldier seems at odds. The elongated chevrons appear to indicate his rank as corporal. Yet, his epaulettes suggest that he
Soldier or Civilian?
One finds it difficult to discern whether the subject of this portrait is a soldier or a civilian. The pattern 1839 fatigue cap, worn at a jaunty angle, and the
A Bay State Militiaman in Full Dress Uniform
Hosea Ballot Ellis (1822-1889), of Quincy, Mass., is attired in the uniform of a Bay State militiaman. Standard trappings include white shoulder belts, epaulettes and a black waist belt with
A Member of King’s Mountain Military School
A second lieutenant poses with his sword and plumed dress cap adorned with the letters KMMS—the King’s Mountain Military School. Established at Yorkville, S.C., in 1855, the institution was designed