Curious Little Picture

[ThehosGendar]

Re: Curious Little Picture

Herr Jaeger,

Sorry about that... don't mean to keep everyone in the fog.

TITLE: Washington, District of Columbia. Officers of 9th or 10th U.S. Veteran Reserve Corps.


CALL NUMBER: LC-B817- 7854 [P&P]


REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-DIG-cwpb-04273 (b&w copy scan)
No known restrictions on publication.


MEDIUM: 1 negative : glass, wet collodion.


CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1865 Apr.


Setting course, sou' by sou'west,

[Milliron]

Re: Curious Little Picture

The thing I'm curious about is those belt plates. Decidedly different, I think. What say those in the know?

[Guardsman]

Re: Curious Little Picture

The backwards picture theory would work if everyone was the same but one person is different. Also the theory of quickly putting on his kit and throwing them over the wrong shoulder is also flawed because then the breastplate would be on his back. A potential theory is that he is left-handed and did not succumb to the training and drilling to do everything by the right hand. But these are just theories no way to be sure.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Curious Little Picture

The backwards picture theory would work if everyone was the same but one person is different.

Look at the two privates kneeling down in front, and check out the position of their weapons..... Notice anything different? And no it's not because they're left handed.... This picture is reversed.

As far as the private who appears to have his leathers on the wrong way, is actually the only one who has them on the correct way. For whatever reason, this private didn't switch his leathers to the opposite side like the rest of the guys. Why didn't he? I have no idea.

A potential theory is that he is left handed and did not succumb to the training and drilling to do everything by the right hand.

Once again, the left handed theory doesn't make sense. It's not his call to use his weapon and leathers "left-handed." This isn't a farb fest reenactment where you see individuals doing whatever they want.

[JimConley]

Re: Curious Little Picture

Look at the two privates kneeling down if front, and check out the position of their weapons..... Notice anything different? And no it's not because they're left handed.... This picture is reversed.

As far as the private who appears to have his leathers on the wrong way, is actually the only one who has them on the correct way. For whatever reason, this private didn't switch his leathers to the opposite side like the rest of the guys. Why didn't he? I have no idea.

Once again, the left handed theory doesn't make sense. It's not his call to use his weapon and leathers "left-handed." This isn't a farb fest reenactment where you see individuals doing whatever they want.

It was always my understanding that left handed rifles were not common, if at all available to a soldier. I believe Aaron is right. When the rest accomodated to the photo while this one lad may have been snatched at the last second to pose as well. You can explain all you want, but the one defintiely differs from the others. And...if he were left handed, because of the lack of left handed rifles, he would have had to train himself to do the manual of arms right handed. Do the manuals not state specifics on what hands are to be used in specific drill movements?

[Guardsman]

Re: Curious Little Picture

You quote me twice and point out my errors but not the line about the breastplate. If one or four of the participant reversed their leathers knowing that the photo was going to be reversed why is the breastplate properly located on the front of each soldiers chest? I don’t think a soldier is going to go through the process of relocating the breastplate, he would just wear the kit backwards and the picture would not show the breastplate on his back. This is not a formal studio shot for his wife or girl friend,this is a more casual picture; the supposed campfire, how they are holding their rifles and the pose in general.

As for the left handed kit, I said that in a sarcastic frame of mind to parody many of the foolish, not thought out comments I see on the various forums. But then again who knows what a soldier will do if his officers and NCOs aren’t strict about the regulations.

[CJSchumacher]

Re: Curious Little Picture

Why the one guy has reversed his 'couts...I don't know. I'm only adding here the image, IMO is correctly shown due to the position of the bayonets on their muskets.

When standing at order arms...the bayonet would be to the right of the muzzle...as they are shown in the picture. If you took either gun, look at the barrel, stock, rammers and then bayonet relative to both. Whenever soldiers "reverse" images while holding a musket with bayonet...it would incorrectly "curve" inward toward the soldier, rather then away due to placing it in their left hand.

Imagine both soldiers on the left holding their guns as is in the position of order arms...the picture is "true" and not reversed.

[FootsoreFederal]

Re: Curious Little Picture

You know, we can speculate until the cows come home but we'll never know for sure. I suppose it's just another one of those little mysteries.

Although, I have to say that the guy being left handed is the most reasonable, but like I just said we'll never know.

[ScottCross]

Copyright Warning

The posting of this image without the written consent of the owner is a violation of US Copyright law. If it were an image from my museum, Paul would be getting a letter from the city attorney right now. You can't do this guys, its not fair to the owner. Find out who owns it, contact them, and ask for permission. Most will grant it readily.

[Robert Braun]

Re: Curious Little Picture

I went back to my copy of Military Images magazine. Upon magnification, the item the soldier "doing the cooking" appears to be lifting from the pan what looks like a large loaf or pone.

Interesting...

Regards, Bob

[FootsoreFederal]

Re: Curious Little Picture

I'm aware now that I shouldn't have posted the picture without permission and I'm sorry. It was an interesting picture and I thought that it would spark an interesting discussion. I'm aware of all this now and shall be far more careful in the future.