Union troops resting in a field

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

The New York State Military Museum's website has a great blurb IDing some of the men in this photograph:
'William W. Silkworth, of Long Branch, New Jersey, a veteran who had an opportunity to inspect some of the pictures reproduced in the PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY, recognized this group as Company B, 170th Regiment, New York Volunteers. You cannot appreciate or understand fully my amazement and joy in the discovery,' he wrote to the editors. 'There right in the front of the picture sits my brother playing cards (You will note that he is left handed. We laid him away in front of Petersburg). With him is John Vandewater, Geo. Thomas and Wash. Keating. There is Charlie Thomas and all the rest as trueas life. With the exception of two, I have not seen any of the boys for thirtyyears.'"

Got these from Alexander Street's online CW database (http://alexanderstreet.com/resources...war.access.htm):

Washington Katen (Union)
- Also: George W. Keating
Enlistment:
- 18 years of age at time of enlistment
- Enlisted on Aug 22 1862 at Brooklyn, NY as Private
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into B Company, 170th Infantry (New York) on Oct 7 1862
- Discharged from 170th Infantry (New York) on Jun 29 1865
Listed as:
- Wounded on Jun 16 1864 at Petersburg, VA

George W. Thomas (Union)
Enlistment:
- 17 years of age at time of enlistment
- Enlisted on Aug 13 1862 at Brooklyn, NY as Private
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into B Company, 170th Infantry (New York) on Oct 7 1862
- Mustered out from 170th Infantry (New York) on Jul 15 1865 at Washington, DC
Promotions:
- Promoted to Corpl (Full, Vol) on Apr 15 1864 (Estimated day)
- Promoted to Sergt (Full, Vol) on Mar 25 1865
- Promoted to 1st Sergt (Full, Vol) on Jul 5 1865
Listed as:
- Wounded on Jun 16 1864 at Petersburg, VA
Sources for the above information:
- New York: Report of the Adjutant-General, (1894-1906)

George L. Silkworth (Union)
Enlistment:
- 18 years of age at time of enlistment
- Enlisted on Aug 23 1862 at Brooklyn, NY as Private
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into B Company, 170th Infantry (New York) on Oct 7 1862
- Killed while serving in 170th Infantry (New York) on Jun 16 1864 at Petersburg, VA
Sources for the above information:
- New York: Report of the Adjutant-General, (1894-1906)

John J F Vandewater (Union)
Enlistment:
- 22 years of age at time of enlistment
- Enlisted on Sep 3 1862 at Brooklyn, NY as Private
Mustering information:
- Enlisted into B Company, 170th Infantry (New York) on Oct 7 1862
- Killed while serving in 170th Infantry (New York) on May 24 1864 at North Anna River, VA
Promotions:
- Promoted to Corpl (Full, Vol) on Apr 15 1863

Charles H. Thomas (Union)

Enlistment:
- 18 years of age at time of enlistment
- Enlisted on Aug 20 1862 at Brooklyn, NY as Private

Mustering information:
- Enlisted into B Company, 170th Infantry (New York) on Oct 7 1862
- Died of disease as POW while serving in 170th Infantry (New York) on Dec 7 1864 at Salisbury, NC (Died of intermittent fever)

Promotions:
- Promoted to Sergt (Full, Vol) (date not indicated)
- Reduced to Private (Full, Vol) (date not indicated) (Reduced to ranks)
- Promoted to Corpl (Full, Vol) on Apr 10 1863

Listed as:
- POW on Aug 25 1864 at Reams' Station, VA


Gives you an idea of how awful the months to come would be for all these men if 2 of the 4 card players were KIA and the other 2 were wounded.

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Just noticed the Corporal stripes on the card player second from the left. He must be John Vandewater, KIA at North Anna. The first from the left, who appears to be left-handed, is probably George Silkworth, KIA at Petersburg.

[yeoman]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Sir, I have seen this image in books but what a difference with high resolution. If I may call attention at closer inspection somethings I've not found noticeable before. Let me start with the fourth image from the top, the man resting his head in hand looks to maybe have been mule kicked. (My grandfather was mule kicked farming as a boy and his nose healed big). I also can't make out his headgear whatsoever unless perhaps its a sort of baggy fez. In the first image as far as can be observed are two frock coats on the stacks of arms. Fellow in third image wearing "rain cover" forage cap looks to be unbloused as does, IMHO, fellow playing checkers in image five. Officer reclining in front has his felt hat on the ground and you can see he's holding his sword in his left hand .The fellow handing papers to standing officer, IMHO, may also be an officer, (do I see shoulder straps)? The in view nco's and officers both are wearing rectangular belt plates whereas the soldiers wearing plates that can be seen give the impression of being oval. There's a lot more yet to bring out of these images, thanks for posting them. Here is a site with some photo's of artifacts that made me think "baggy fez". My two cents, thanks. http:www.historicalimagebank.com Just click online catalog, click drum, click drum, click album:cw hats and caps, page fifteen.

[fedcampaigner]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

It looks to me like the seargent in the last picture has the skirt of his frock coat hooked to the rear skirt. What do ya'll think?

[OldState]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Looks like the guy playing cards on the right just made a king high flush but the guy on the left has an ace high diamond flush. Lots of action!!

[Arch Campbell]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

I've been looking at this image for over 25 years, but to see it in high-res is awesome! Thanks for posting this!
Though it appears that one of the gentlemen has a very good "Bluff" hand, the player second from the right is clearly playing a card onto an already partially formed trick. This would lead me to think that they are playing euchre, which would also explain why some of them have four cards and some five, as some have already played the trick. This is also why all their cards are so high, as euchre is played with the nines, aces, and face cards.
Incidentally, I love how they are "cheating" their hands to expose them to the camera- a classic move in period "gentlemen relaxing" shots.

[ThehosGendar]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Ryan,

Where did you find the higher-res. scan? I know this image is at NARA and not the LOC... did you order one of the scans from the print house NARA contracted out to?

I wish NARA would digitise the rest of their images. They've got the glass plate negatives for the Confederate prisoners in the Punch Bowl, as well as a pile of really cool small group camp portraits.

[Danny]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

The guy 2nd left from the drum, with the Van Dyke and floppy hat, he absolutely knows he's staring ahead at us in the future through some kind of steam-charged mirror connected to some kind of telegraph 'lectric. And he's amused at the prospect. The McCarthy in me feels I'm sitting right there with that bunch of Micks n' Mubs, and I tip my kepi to that fella.

Thanks for posting the close-ups.

Dan Wykes

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

How steam punk! Perhaps he might imagine a computer like this:

http://steampunkworkshop.com/images/M19.jpg

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

The National Archives has another view of this same company on its Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives/4166855024/

It's not ID'd but enough of them are unmistakeable from the "resting" photograph. This time they're lined up in a field with their winter quarters visible in the background. Well worth a look.

[garyjd]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Let me start with the fourth image from the top, the man resting his head in hand looks to maybe have been mule kicked. (My grandfather was mule kicked farming as a boy and his nose healed big). I also can't make out his headgear whatsoever unless perhaps its a sort of baggy fez.

He may just have his forage cap turned around with the visor facing to the rear. ~Gary

[GAR]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

In the second picture, I see only one soldier in the back row with his trousers tucked into his boots. Also in the same photo, the soldier who is 6th from our right, has an interesting beard that I've not yet seen re-enacted. Great picture made even better with this resolution.

G

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

These images in my file were also marked 170th NY. They may be mis-labeleled.

[Pvt. Sanders]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Looks like they are using M-1842 smooth bores. I suspect that more 42s were in use that late in the war than is commonly thought.

Well we know from personal accounts that the Irish were known to have 42s at Fredericksburg and Antietam. Buck and Ball is super deadly when in close range , and the Irish sure could get close. But like you said the Overland campaign was in April of 64, seems like even the Irish would have been forced to switch to the 61 or 63 by then, if not to just to standardize the ammunition being supplied. I guess I need to try and dig up some information on weapon reports. Now we know the unit I will see what I can find. I really like the guy with the chops reading the paper, great picture. Thank you for posting Sir.

R/S

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Union troops resting in a field

Well we know from personal accounts that the Irish were known to have 42s at Fredericksburg and Antietam. Buck and Ball is super deadly when in close range , and the Irish sure could get close. But like you said the Overland campaign was in April of 64, seems like even the Irish would have been forced to switch to the 61 or 63 by then, if not to just to standardize the ammunition being supplied. I guess I need to try and dig up some information on weapon reports. Now we know the unit I will see what I can find. I really like the guy with the chops reading the paper, great picture. Thank you for posting Sir.

R/S

Not just the Irish, but the majority of the 2nd Corps carried .69 caliber arms at Gettysburg and after.