Tweet
I've been looking closely at the image of Pvt. Kennedy Palmer of the 13th Virginia Infantry, Co H. in EoG (Confederate) page 203. I've made a few observations, but would appreciate your observations/comments on this image.
The image is dated 1861 and it says Kennedy is 17 years old. A few observations:
1. He’s wearing what appears to be a forage cap decorated on top , but not brass letters/number as seen on a different photo of a different forage cap that belongs to him on page 93. The bill is flipped up, Gomer Pyle style, so not much can be seen of the hat except the top and inside of the bill. The bill is large and squarish.
2. He is wearing a dark shell type jacket with many, close set buttons.
3. He’s wearing a blanket roll over his left shoulder, waist belt, cartridge box, dark haversack and probably a canteen, but I can’t see it, But there does seem to be a second strap that indicates a canteen.
4. Trousers seem to be a lighter shade than the jacket.
5. It appears he’s wearing boots, about 6" tall. Trousers are tucked into his boots.
6. He is holding what looks like a 3 band Enfield in his left hand.
It is an interesting image, but a number of things don’t seem right for 1861, for example;
1. No knapsack, blanket roll instead.
2. No frock coat, short waisted shell type jacket. It may have shoulder straps. My understanding is that the 13th had frock coats at the beginning of the war.
3. Carrying a 3 band enfield. I would expect to see him carrying a smoothbore in 1861.
I wonder if the image was taken later, perhaps around mid war. It’s a neat photo.
Appreciate your observations and comments.
Steve Blancard
13th Virginia Inf., Co A.
The image is dated 1861 and it says Kennedy is 17 years old. A few observations:
1. He’s wearing what appears to be a forage cap decorated on top , but not brass letters/number as seen on a different photo of a different forage cap that belongs to him on page 93. The bill is flipped up, Gomer Pyle style, so not much can be seen of the hat except the top and inside of the bill. The bill is large and squarish.
2. He is wearing a dark shell type jacket with many, close set buttons.
3. He’s wearing a blanket roll over his left shoulder, waist belt, cartridge box, dark haversack and probably a canteen, but I can’t see it, But there does seem to be a second strap that indicates a canteen.
4. Trousers seem to be a lighter shade than the jacket.
5. It appears he’s wearing boots, about 6" tall. Trousers are tucked into his boots.
6. He is holding what looks like a 3 band Enfield in his left hand.
It is an interesting image, but a number of things don’t seem right for 1861, for example;
1. No knapsack, blanket roll instead.
2. No frock coat, short waisted shell type jacket. It may have shoulder straps. My understanding is that the 13th had frock coats at the beginning of the war.
3. Carrying a 3 band enfield. I would expect to see him carrying a smoothbore in 1861.
I wonder if the image was taken later, perhaps around mid war. It’s a neat photo.
Appreciate your observations and comments.
Steve Blancard
13th Virginia Inf., Co A.
Comment