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EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

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  • EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

    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.
    Steve Blancard
    Corporal
    13th Virginia Infantry, Company A.

  • #2
    Re: EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

    Re: the blanket roll as opposed to a knapsack, there is a photo of 8th New York Militiamen prior to Bull Run, in which at least one of them is wearing a blanket roll. Others will have more knowledge on this, but I believe this practice predated the war.
    Will Hickox

    "When there is no officer with us, we take no prisoners." Private John Brobst, 25th Wisconsin Infantry, May 20, 1864.

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    • #3
      Re: EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

      If you refer to page 93 you'll see Palmer's "Battle shirt" and forage cap from 1861. His shirt mimics a military jacket, and has red cuffs and collars. And of course his forage cap is adorned with brass 13 Va co H. I would say the picture is from much later. I would think the 1861 may refer to being one of the "boy's of 61" maybe, but not to the date of the picture.
      Robert Ambrose

      Park Ranger
      Fort Frederick State Park, Maryland
      5th Virginia Infantry Co. K

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      • #4
        Re: EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

        Wow, I am shocked. Someone on this site questioning the holly book EoG.
        Next thing you know someone will be saying Moses sandles were wrong when he recieved the 10 commandments.

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        • #5
          Re: EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

          Moses sandles weren't made by Missouri Boot and Shoe... ;)
          Tom "Mingo" Machingo
          Independent Rifles, Weevil's Mess

          Vixi Et Didici

          "I think and highly hope that this war will end this year, and Oh then what a happy time we will have. No need of writing then but we can talk and talk again, and my boy can talk to me and I will never tire of listening to him and he will want to go with me everywhere I go, and I will be certain to let him go if there is any possible chance."
          Marion Hill Fitzpatrick
          Company K, 45th Georgia Infantry
          KIA Petersburg, Virginia

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          • #6
            Re: EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

            The early photo of Rhode Island volunteers, in camp near Washington in '61 comes immediately to mind. They are sporting (red?) blanket rolls also.
            Rich Croxton

            "I had fun. How about you?" -- In memory of Charles Heath, 1960-2009

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            • #7
              Re: EoG pvt. Kennedy Palmer

              If he is in fact holding an 1853 Enfield, it seems unlikely that the photo was actually taken in 1861, since few were available at that time. However, page 35 shows the Whitney contract Enfield that was sold to Mississippi, Georgia and other southern states prior to May 1861. He could be holding one of these in the photo. Unfortuately, the photo is not clear enough for my eyes to tell.

              Steve Blancard
              13 Va Inf. Co. A.
              Steve Blancard
              Corporal
              13th Virginia Infantry, Company A.

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