The Trestle

[roundshot]

This oldie but goodie is from the NARA collection at the University of Maryland. While it's a shame the resolution isn't better, a close up of Russell's famous Fredericksburg RR trestle photo does bring out some interesting CS uniform details.

[Matthew Semple]

Re: The Trestle

I noticed two interesting things in this photograph.

1. In the center, there is a soldier wearing a 4 button jacket.
2. Just left of center, it looks like a soldier is wearing an Ambulance Corps band on his slouch hat.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: The Trestle

Mr Semple, you just beat me to the punch, as I thought that was an Ambulance Corps band on that hat as well.

[Micah Trent]

Re: The Trestle

One thing that stood out to me is the guy standing second from the far left. Unlike the others from what I can tell, it appears he is wearing leggings.

[1stMaine]

Re: The Trestle

Comrades,

There's an abundance of hats, but still, there is a smattering of caps as well. Also, despite the vagaries of the clothing, the "uniform" look both in style and hue.

And again, you can always tell the officers. Almost always, in images like these, the officers are wearing some variety of frock coat. Regardless of what the men are wearing, the officers seem to be able to acquire a dress coat. Not always, mind, there is always the exception, but still..... time and again you see these images, and their are the officers, wearing a coat rather than a jacket.

Respects,

[Michael Comer]

Re: The Trestle

I love this photo! This and the one of the Confederates in the street at Frederick, MD prior to Antietam are my two favorites.

Fellow on the right looks like he's got a big grin on his face. The fellow below him looks like a civilian but he's certainly young enough to have been in the army. Doesn't like like there's a vestige of military clothing on him though. Pretty young kid standing on the far left.

Does anyone know the story behind this picture? I've always wondered how you could get a group of the enemy to pose in clear rifle shot for a photo.

[DougCooper]

Re: The Trestle

The preponderance of jackets are Richmond Depot pattern, appearing to be mostly RD 2's, which makes sense at the date in question. That 4 button jacket in the center is interesting - does not appear to be a Brooke jacket (aka 4 button jacket) based on button spacing and other details. The distance here is actually farther than it appears. Note that none of the soldiers have weapons...another day in the uneasy truce across the river.

[PanzerJager]

Re: The Trestle

The preponderance of jackets are Richmond Depot pattern, appearing to be mostly RD 2's, which makes sense at the date in question. That 4 button jacket in the center is interesting - does not appear to be a Brooke jacket (aka 4 button jacket) based on button spacing and other details. The distance here is actually farther than it appears. Note that none of the soldiers have weapons...another day in the uneasy truce across the river.

What I find most interesting about the man in the 4 button coat is that the hue of his jacket and trousers appear to be very similar if not the same shade and very closely match the "color" or tone for that matter, of other clothing in the photograph while there are other jackets in the same photograph that appear much darker.

regards,

[Randy]

Re: The Trestle

Does anyone know the story behind this picture? I've always wondered how you could get a group of the enemy to pose in clear rifle shot for a photo.

I love this photo too. And this caption to this photo is from a book entitled Brady's Civil War, a collection of memorable Civil War images photographed by Mathew Brady and his assistants.[(published by Salamander Books Ltd., 2000, p.250):
"During the brutal 1862 battle of Fredericksburg, a group of men under the command of General Robert E. Lee assembled in an undamaged sector of town during a burial cease-fire. Far away, accross the Rappahannock River, Mathew Brady is believed to have climbed to the top of what was left of a railroad bridge. From this elevated perch, he made one of the earliest known photos obtained by means of a telescopic lens."

[Dignann]

Re: The Trestle

One of the many things that struck me about the photo was the shades of the soldiers' uniforms. They appear much darker than I would have thought.

Four similar views to this one are known to exist. These variant views show the same Confederate soldiers, but in different poses and from slightly different angles. One of these albumens contains period pencil notations on the card, which indicates that the photo was taken in April 1863. The notations even identify the officer, suggesting that these men were from the 17th Mississippi. The photographer was Andrew J. Russell, not Brady.

Eric

[skulker]

Re: The Trestle

Hi

On the tall guy standing number 5 in the back row is it realy a Richmond type II jacket With facings on sleeves,collar and two cuff buttons i see???

Or is my eyes deciving me?

Regards!

Nicholas Nordström-O`Grady

[roundshot]

Re: The Trestle

You are correct on the jacket trim. Here's a close up. Also, note there are "Confederates In the Attic" of the large building on the far shore.

[skulker]

Re: The Trestle

Yep, Thanx for the close up Roundshot!!, is this not highly unusual so late in the war for a depot garment to have pointed cuff trim and trim on the collar??
It surely looks like a RD II shell jacket but i dont know, could it be some kind of a communitation jacket??

Maybe he just added it him self, just for the look of it!!:) anyway he is the only guy in the photo with trim!!
We will never know!!

Any thoughts gentlemen!!

Best
Nicholas Nordström-O`Grady