Snidely Whiplash?

[mtvernon]

Re: Snidely Whiplash?

Hmmmm, a fort around Washington. Is shifty a politician, arms dealer, or a "salesman" of unspeakable trades? It's a great look!

Robert Gobtop
Ol' Sipley Mess
ONV

"Please, do come inside and let us talk awhile like civilized men (twists mustache)," said Snidley.

I look at this as a first-person view, and if it were me, the thought running through my mind would be, "It's a trap!!!"

[passfan]

Re: Snidely Whiplash?

Snidely looks a bit well off to me actually. While standing with mud all around him his boots are polished right down to the soles and he looks slightly overfed. His hat and coat seem the style of the day and his hair is neatly kept.

[DougCooper]

Re: Snidely Whiplash?

Interersting that the tangle of branches is right up next to the walls of the fort - next best thing to a ditch I guess. It would keep an enemy with scaling ladders from approaching the walls easily, but also allows them to get very close without obstruction, unless there is another set farther out. These are no doubt the tops of the trees that made up the walls.

I am not convinced it is that muddy - only a bit muddy, unless Snidely rode in on a horse and just got off.

Snidely reminds me of an 1861 quote from an army contractor: "You can charge almost any price to the army you have the guts to ask."

Is there a date for this one? If we could figure out the unit that would be excellent - not every day you see a DC fort with soldiers in MSJ's, infantry accouterments and likely manning heavy artillery. This may in fact be 1861 as the fort was constructed in May of 61 but soon became an inner line fort when the big ring was complete farther out on the Virginia side. Fort Corcoran was located close to the Key Bridge and present day Fort Meyer in Rosalyn. Here is a map link: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...te=VA&zipcode=

[roundshot]

Re: Snidely Whiplash?

At least some of the heavy artillery units at this time guarding Washington, including the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery (112th Volunteers), were issued light artillery MSJs. An article I did for Military Images Magazine on the 2nd can be found here: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...01/ai_n9372245 I do not believe these men to be from the 2nd however, based upon other extant photos of the unit and the fact that the 2nd managed the line north of the city.Also note these jackets have 9 button fronts.

[Mojo1842]

Re: Snidely Whiplash?

Snidely almost looks photoshoped in, Look how much brighter his figure is compared to the others, Look at his boots also, No mud on them compared to everybody else's. I would think he would have mud on them as deep as it looks in the picture! Great image if it is real though! I love this stuff!

I can just read the quote from someone's diary now..."While stationed at Ft. Corcoran I had occasion to meet a "businessman" who was so oily that even the very mud could not be made to stick to him....."