Large group of Federals

[Dignann]

Re: Large group of Federals

I have ZERO information about who these men are or when/where it was taken.

Where did you find the photo? If from LOC, what's the number? Some provenance might help.

Eric

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Large group of Federals

Where did you find the photo? If from LOC, what's the number? Some provenance might help.

Eric

I found it on this website, which unfortunately doesn't give much details on the photos they have.

http://narademo.umiacs.umd.edu/cgi-bin/isadg/viewseries.pl?seriesid=2751

[Steve Acker]

Re: Large group of Federals

Is that a corps badge on the fella in the big hat with his hand across his chest? The soldier with his fatigue blouse open and his hand clasped to a side. If so it might give a clue to location.

Steve Acker

[crabby]

Re: Large group of Federals

Could this possibly be in front of either the Sanitary Commission or Christian Commission also? Kind of hard to determine without the provenance. I would expect some kind of dressings on at least one or two for a hospital, just speculation though.

Crabby

[Rob Walker]

Re: Large group of Federals

I gave the lack of bandages etc. some thought as well but figured it could be a group of men recovering from Bloody Flux or something. There probably would be some men with wounds I would imagine. The Sanitary Comm. thought is very plausable. It is a great image, too bad there is not more information available.

[rogue]

Re: Large group of Federals

Sanitary or Christian Commission makes some sense. The vertical boards on the building in the right rear suggests a permanant camp. The lack of any sort of field equipment also suggests a rear area as well. No onw is wearing belts or boxes, no weapons.
Might I suggest a paroled unit? There is an utter lack of joy among the fellows pictured, and the drummer a few officers could make up a mid to late war company sized unit. Very few peach fuzzed cheeks among those shown. These men have been on campaign and while in a group they suggest anything but happiness at being where ever they are.
Lost in history.
Steve Sullivan

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Large group of Federals

Might I suggest a paroled unit? There is an utter lack of joy among the fellows pictured

I think that is an EXCELLENT theory. I completely hadn't thought of that. They do look extremely dejected, as if they had all suffered the embarrassment of being captured at some point.

[madasabagofcats]

Re: Large group of Federals

Another possibility for what is a splendid photograph is a Provost Marshal's office. I darkened the notice board in Photoshop and the notice to the right clearly states 'Passes'.

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Large group of Federals

I was thinking maybe Signal Corps. Note the pole coming up from the middle tent in the background (the one with the table & bench). Could that be a telegraph wire?

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Large group of Federals

While scanning the newly digitized MOLLUS collection, I was excited to find another view of the same group--with a caption!! As some of you surmised, this is a convalescent camp. There is no date, but the location given is "near Alexandria, Virginia."

You can find it here:
http://www.ahco.army.mil/site/index.jsp

Thank you to Kaleb Dissinger for posting the link.

[1stMo Drummer]

Re: Large group of Federals

I also noticed that the guy laying down to the left of the drummer, has a fife leaning up against his leg. Also it seems a handful of the guys have cravats on, many without.

[pvtMonroe5thtexas]

Re: Large group of Federals

Interesting to see the drummer actually sitting on the head of his drum.

[1stMo Drummer]

Re: Large group of Federals

Yeah most of the time you see drummer sitting on their drum its on the side of it...When on a break during a long march I usually rest sitting on it, but like the man in the image, usually on the head side. Always feels like im going to smash it when I sit on the side like in other images.
Man there is so much in this image its nuts!