A mystery is solved

[OleMissRebel]

It's been discussed time and again about whether a dead guy in one of the Petersburg photos is a black man or not and now we have proof that he in fact is. I did not come upon this discovery myself, but it was recently discussed in Civil War Times.

The image:





Here's that same guy in another photograph. He was apparently the photographers assistant who made him play dead in that photo for dramatic effect.

[David Fox]

Re: A mystery is solved

Interesting. By the way, take notice of how far above center the "US" box plate is on the cartridge box on the dead soldier in the foreground. I saw a .69 elongated ball box with a plate in like position at last weekend's Louisville show and wondered, never recalling seeing such before.

[unclefrank]

Re: A mystery is solved

Very cool. Good work.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: A mystery is solved

I'm assuming each photo is "dated" knowing for sure the photo of the young man standing up was taken 'after' the photo of him appearing deceased? EITHER WAY, what a hell of a discovery! Great find Ryan!

[ScottCross]

Re: A mystery is solved

He's even wearing the same clothes in both images. Clearly the same fellow.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: A mystery is solved

Hallo!

True, but he seems to have replaced his boots for a pair of "country boots' (leggings) and stockinged/bare feet. Or he replaced his stockinged/bare feet and leggings with boots.

:)



Curt

[yeoman]

Re: A mystery is solved

Yes sir, do notice the tear in the trousers below the pocket in each image.

The LOC has the first titled, Confederate and Union dead side by side in the trenches at Fort Mahone.
The summary, Photograph from the main eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865.
The second is titled, Petersburg Va. View of Dunlop's house, Bolling Brook street.
Date created/published, 1865 April.

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: A mystery is solved

Wow--I didn't think we'd ever really know the truth behind this photograph. Makes me wonder what else Roche did to "enhance the composition" of his photographs of the Petersburg dead. Are any of the other men/boys in the series just faking? Most of them show the obvious signs of being killed (not to mention they're clearly wearing Confederate uniforms), but now I'm going to have to go back through them with more of an open mind. I wonder what a photographer like Roche is thinking when he comes upon a sight like that of the works near Fort Mahone. Does he just see dollar signs? Even in a time when death is a much closer reality, how can one not be moved by the sight of so many dead men? Maybe he was emotionally affected, but felt the story of tragedy he was telling through his images was incomplete without a black "Union soldier" in view. Either way, the notion of journalistic integrity as it applies to photographers certainly seems to be a more recent concept (with of course plenty of modern exceptions). With Civil War battlefield photographers however, deception and manipulation seems to have been pretty commonplace. Consider Tipton's bizarre stereoviews of Union soldiers playing dead at Devil's Den, Gardner's tall tales about the subjects of his images, and of course Gardner and O'Sullivan's famous repositioning of the "sharpshooter." I just wish these men were around so we could ask them why.

[roundshot]

Re: A mystery is solved

Poor fellow. He also got killed on the parapets of Ft. Sedgwick before being killed in Ft. Mahone. At least he has on different pants with his ratty vest.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: A mystery is solved

LOL! That does certainly look like our dude!

[KPavia]

Re: A mystery is solved

I think he just got caught sleeping on the job.

[Clyons]

Re: A mystery is solved

In Gettysburg daily William Frassinino (Sp) talks about this very photograph and shows the man alive and well. It was interesting how photographers even then doctored the shot forsaking the truth. He also shows a photo of the dead soilder prio to the black boy being placed in it. I am sorry I don't have the link but if you look at Gettsyburg daily archrives you will find it. It was a week ago.

Chuck Lyons
10th IL Infantry

[Foot-slogger1862]

Re: A mystery is solved

Gents,
LOC has the image of the two men labeled, "Confederate and Union dead side by side in Ft. Mahone". Roche's original caption, as documented by Mr. Frassanito in "Grant and Lee", reads: "Rebel Artillery soldiers, killed in the trenches of Fort Mahone". Now, might I offer you all a link to Mr. Chris Daley's site that might shed additional light on not the macabre actions of the photographer, but rather the actual dead soldier and his uniform.

http://www.cjdaley.com/redtaitjackets.htm

Respectfully,
Ryan D. W. Kiesel

[Gary of CA]

Re: A mystery is solved

I think he just got caught sleeping on the job.

Can't get good help anymore then and now.

[Secesh]

Re: A mystery is solved

He seems to relish his role...I could see him now in the twilight of his years..."And here's me playing dead at Ft. Sedgewick, and here's me playing dead at Ft. Mahone, and here's an image of me playing dead at..."