Interesting Photo from Appomattox

[woodsda]

Found this image, thought it was interesting with the varying degree of uniforms.

[roundshot]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

Particularly with Mr. Reb in the picture by the middle stack.

[jake.koch]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

I will preface this with saying I am not as familiar with the Army of the Potomac's uniform changes throughout the war beyond the basics, however I thought I had read somewhere about there being orders against wearing slouch hats? I think the only forage cap I see is on the person above the left shoulder of the man with the cane and that is hard to make out for sure due to shadows. Just looking at the picture without context you could have easily guessed this to be Western Theater based on headgear.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

It was 150 years ago today that Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Here the full version of the photo Don posted:

[woodsda]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

Another image of a large group.

[Matthew Semple]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

Eric,

The photo you posted is a different photo than the detail that Don first posted. The camera is in the same location and some are also in this photo standing in the same location and in the same manner. This photo does not have the children in it the way the details of the photo first posted and the full size that Don posted directly following your post.

Both are great photos and appear to have been shot moments apart from eachother with only a reset of the plate in the camera and people being added or subtracted in between the two photos.

Matt

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

Matt, yep. Good catch. I saw two different versions on the LOC site. Literally looks like the two photos were taken minutes apart.

[bAcK88]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

I will preface this with saying I am not as familiar with the Army of the Potomac's uniform changes throughout the war beyond the basics, however I thought I had read somewhere about there being orders against wearing slouch hats? I think the only forage cap I see is on the person above the left shoulder of the man with the cane and that is hard to make out for sure due to shadows. Just looking at the picture without context you could have easily guessed this to be Western Theater based on headgear.

I've been looking at these series of images for a while. The soldiers in these photographs are members of the Army of the James. You can make out what looks to be a 24th Army Corps badge on a few of the soldiers.

[Jon The Beloved]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

Good eye there Bill.. Gotta LOVE those corps badges.

A quick read on those who served reveal they started off pretty miserably under Butler in the Overland and Bermuda Hundred Campaigns and fought to redeem themselves by attempting to take Richmond and Petersburg's fortifications with both success and stagnation.. Talk about hurry up and wait even in the last year of war.. A large number fought with distinction at Chaffin's Farm, Fort Harrison, and the fights at Fort Fisher. They were acquainted with serving alongside negro troops at many engagements, being in the same corps for a time, so they would have had to grapple with that cultural shift, personally. I assume that they were largely composed of late bloomers and reenlisters from all walks of life that were intended to be used as occupation troops under a new command and new objectives. They had certainly been some of those engaged at Appomatox after the fall of Petersburg so I might suppose that the reasons they are subjects in the picture are that they remained bivouacked nearby and that they may have been seen as a full circle redeemable force that helped secure the defeat of the rebellion. But then again, I wasn't there..

[jake.koch]

Re: Interesting Photo from Appomattox

Bill and Jon - Thanks for the info!