Sloppy fella

[delawaric]

My mother in law recently gave me this photo of her Great-grandfather, Gardner Woods, who served in
CO I 109th NY Infantry. He enlisted when he was 40 years old. Im not sure if this is a war time photo. Are those issue trousers? Regardless I found it odd that he sat for this photo looking so disheveled. Notice the unbuttoned shirt and chest hair showing. Any thoughts?

[dixieflyer]

Re: Sloppy fella

They look issue to me. What I like is his manner of wearing his braces, crossed in front!

[D.W. Scalf]

Re: Sloppy fella

You'd a thought the photographer would have had him button that shirt. But do you think that's chest hair showing, or a dirty "under"shirt? I've seen worse though....

[delawaric]

Re: Sloppy fella

I suppose it could be a dirty undershirt that didnt even occur to me. It still looks like chest hair to me though. I agree that its odd the photographer didnt tell him to button his shirt.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Sloppy fella

Most definitely a pair of issue trousers and a knit wool shirt with self-fabric collar and a woven fabric placket.

[Becky Morgan]

Re: Sloppy fella

What's the white loop on the side of his collar? It's hooked to, or through, the light-colored fabric sticking out from the wool shirt and looks to be looped around or through the collar buttonhole.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Sloppy fella

Eric, I looked up your soldier and found only one entry for a "Gardner C. Woods" who served in Company G of the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry. This same man shows up on Soldiers & Sailors in the same organization but his named is spelled "Gardiner." According to the available record, Woods enlisted on 10/23/61 but no further information is available. The 53rd PA Infantry served in the First Division of the Second Corps for nearly it's entire term of service.

[delawaric]

Re: Sloppy fella

Brian his first name is actually Charles. I guess everyone just called him Gardner as thats his middle name. He musterd in 7 Oct 1863 and was wounded during the Wilderness.

[delawaric]

Re: Sloppy fella

I did a little more digging and found him on a draft registration record from May of '63 and he is indeed the same Gardner Woods you found who served in Company G of the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry. He was discharged in April of '63 and then re-enlisted in the 109th NY in October.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Sloppy fella

Eric,

I made a huge mistake...for some reason I was looking for soldiers with that name who served for PA rather than New York! Oops!!!

Here's the information I found:

Residence was not listed; 39 years old.

Enlisted on 7/10/1863 at Independence, NY as a Private.

On 7/10/1863 he mustered into "I" Co. NY 109th Infantry
He was transferred out on 6/3/1865 at Washington, DC
(Transferred while absent, in hospital.)

On 6/3/1865 he transferred into "K" Co. NY 51st Infantry
Mustered Out on 6/16/1865 at Hospital, Washington, DC

He was listed as:
* Hospitalized Washington, DC (date not stated) (At Finley Hospital)

[delawaric]

Re: Sloppy fella

Ha well it turned out to not be a mistake after all. Potter County Pennsylvania is where he lived and where CO G of the 53rd PA were recruited. Binghamton NY is where CO I of the 109th NY were recruited and thats right across the border from him. Now why he didnt just reenlist with his old unit I dont know. I assume it had to do with money.

[DougCooper]

Re: Sloppy fella

These are non-adjusting suspenders so this may have been the only way he can wear them and keep his trousers up high (suspenders crossed in back too). The knit shirt is outstanding.

[teufelhund]

Re: Sloppy fella

The shirt actually looks to be too small for his chest. Notice the very top button is buttoned, but the others can't quite make it over to the buttonholes apparently.

[Secesh]

Re: Sloppy fella

And I thought only I wear my braces that way...lol