Great Photo

[RyanBWeddle]

http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cwpb/02500/02595v.jpg

Check out this photo. This is another one of the gems from the LoC American Memory website. I was talking about it with a friend yesterday and thought I'd post it here.

There are so many intricate details in this photo that really give a great insight on the motley crew in the picture. The photo is titled:

"Petersburg, Va. Federal soldiers removing artillery from Confederate fortifications" and says it was taken in April of 1865.

There are so many neat things in this photo and if you go in to the link and view the massive tif file all kinds of little treasures are found; cups on haversack straps, raincovers on caps, neat mounted services jackets with one false button on the collar, overcoats & blankets hanging about, canteens of varying style / cover etc, trowsers tucked into boots, cuffs rolled up over boots, ripped cuffs, an oldly placed scarf, a 'army fit' fatigue blouse, and a trigger finger mitten on the ground amidst other cups and detritis...

Check it out, a wild, wild photo! If someone can post it here and some of the details, it is well worth it, I have trouble uploading (I think it is a conspiracy.)

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?cwar:2:./temp/~ammem_3z5A::

[10TnVI]

Re: Great Photo

Ryan- this image does indeed show a number of interesting details and peculiarities. It was also extensively disected on this forum about a year and a half ago or so. Too bad the archives are still crippled:-)

[ThehosGendar]

Re: Great Photo

... I have trouble uploading (I think it is a conspiracy.)

DAMN! *shakes fist at sky* Cruel fates! How you turn your traitorous back so soon, destroying my notions of future, fouler, and more mischevious machinations!

The deal between me and the LOC web gurus was this- for regular deliveries of Yuengling beer, frozen buffalo wings, underground 'graphic novels', and all of the early episodes Mystery Science Theater 3000 (with Joel, not Mike), they would give every IP address except mine a hellish time downloading the high-res. images. Sometimes, it'd just be slow. Other times, the link wouldn't work. Once, a guy from Tonowanda, N.Y. tried to download "Harrison's Landing, Va. Group of the Irish Brigade," and got an instruction book for an industrial vacuum cleaner in MS Word format instead!

The Nilfisk Advanced CFM A17 Explosion Proof Stainless Steel Pneumatic Vacuum.
(No, it doesn't come in hot dipped tin.)

But, according to your testimony, it seems that I still have a sharpened talon around the LOC's high-res. imagery. It's mine! *maniacal laughter*

[ThehosGendar]

Re: Great Photo

With that out of the way, here goes:


He's wearing his scarf like a Sontag... or maybe it is a Sontag.


An Enfield (which is missing its ramrod), a skillet, wire bail cup, trigger finger mitten, and a strap.


Raincover cap, false collar button, and corrugated canteen on the soldier in the background.


Two different styles of canteens within three feet of each other!


I remember when this image was discussed last time, that there was a debate about what type of sword this was. Does anyone remember?

[C.G. Williams]

Re: Great Photo

Another thing you left out Jason is the different styles of all the hats....Now thats obvious, geeez.. And I thought you knew everything, what kind of person do you think you are??? Oh yeah, E-mail Me!!

[GeraldTodd]

Re: Great Photo

To reiterate a post that went to the land of the lost...

Considering the cavalry sabre on the limber box, the buff sabre belts, mounted pattern trousers, maybe the boots, and mainly because of the 5 mounted service jackets with piping that doesn't show well in the photos, I think these fellows are cavalrymen. (the fellow with the scarf's wearing an MSJ too, with the collar turned down.)

Is that another frypan hanging under the limber?

BTW: the buff strap on the sabre is one of the slings, it's not in the right place to be a sabre knot.