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This is a scanned copy of a photo which hangs in the courtroom of the Honorable Richard Eadie, Judge of the King County (Washington) Superior Court. The photo is of his great great grandfather, Charles Andrews of Co. B, 33d Illinois Infantry. Charles Andrews of Downer's Grove, Illinois, mustered out as a sergeant at the end of his three year enlistment. For reference, the 33d Illinois was in McClernand's Corps during the Vicksburg Campaign.
According to the regimental history of the 33rd Illiniois, Co. B had the unusual distinction that no man therein was listed as being "killed in action." Per the regimental history at page 97 :
There are some great things about this early war photo. If you look carefully at the buttons, it is actually a reversed photo despite the musket and accoutrements being on the correct sides. That's what drew my attention to the photo.
Things I've noticed include :
- his own 1842 Springfield musket (notice how the scabbard is empty - if a bayonet was in his scabbard, the weapon may be a prop of the photographer or a borrowed musket) ;
- state jacket ;
- what may be his own dirk or side knife as it is attached to his belt ; and
- possible Navy colt in the jacket which is likely a prop.
Now for the fun stuff :
- the letter on the cap was removed and placed upside down so that it would appear to be correct in a reversed image ;
- the placement of the musket on his true left so that it would appear on the right in a reversed image ;
- the placement of cartridge box sling on his right shoulder with box on his left hip so that each would appear to be on the correct sides in a reversed image ;
- the placement of the cap box and scabbard on opposite sides so that each would appear to be on the correct sides in a reversed image ; and
- that upside down buckle which is a common reenactorism.
The belt buckle is the key to the picture and tells a story about how the image was captured. To get the cap box and bayonet scabbard to appear to be on the correct sides for the photo, the photographer likely had Pvt. Andrews remove the belt with accoutrements on the ground and the belt layed out flat. Then he had the soldier remove the belt without disturbing the accoutrements, turn the belt 180 degrees and rethread the accoutrements. Then the belt was put on the soldier with the accoutrements on the wrong sides.
I have many times gone to Judge Eadie's courtroom just to view the photo. After the war, Sergeant Andrews returned to Illinois and would eventually become a county judge.
According to the regimental history of the 33rd Illiniois, Co. B had the unusual distinction that no man therein was listed as being "killed in action." Per the regimental history at page 97 :
Several of its men were seriously or fatally wounded, but none killed. This did not come from any neglect of duty. B Company did its work in a satisfactory manner in every place to which it was assigned. In only one Instance was B Company away from the regiment when the battle was on. For conspicuous gallantry at Black River Bridge, Miss, (where as a company it was the first inside the rebel works, taking possession of several cannon, turning them on the retreating enemy with good effect), the company by "general order" was assigned, as a mark of honor, to guard these cannon and did not participate in the assault of the 22nd of May at Vicksburg, Miss.
Things I've noticed include :
- his own 1842 Springfield musket (notice how the scabbard is empty - if a bayonet was in his scabbard, the weapon may be a prop of the photographer or a borrowed musket) ;
- state jacket ;
- what may be his own dirk or side knife as it is attached to his belt ; and
- possible Navy colt in the jacket which is likely a prop.
Now for the fun stuff :
- the letter on the cap was removed and placed upside down so that it would appear to be correct in a reversed image ;
- the placement of the musket on his true left so that it would appear on the right in a reversed image ;
- the placement of cartridge box sling on his right shoulder with box on his left hip so that each would appear to be on the correct sides in a reversed image ;
- the placement of the cap box and scabbard on opposite sides so that each would appear to be on the correct sides in a reversed image ; and
- that upside down buckle which is a common reenactorism.
The belt buckle is the key to the picture and tells a story about how the image was captured. To get the cap box and bayonet scabbard to appear to be on the correct sides for the photo, the photographer likely had Pvt. Andrews remove the belt with accoutrements on the ground and the belt layed out flat. Then he had the soldier remove the belt without disturbing the accoutrements, turn the belt 180 degrees and rethread the accoutrements. Then the belt was put on the soldier with the accoutrements on the wrong sides.
I have many times gone to Judge Eadie's courtroom just to view the photo. After the war, Sergeant Andrews returned to Illinois and would eventually become a county judge.
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