Confederate Prisoners and Union Soldiers Together

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

I think this photo just goes to show how much lack of uniformity there was in the Western Federal armies.

[lukegilly13]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

You are very right. It could also be a state issue jacket. I cannot tell if his trousers have "mule ear" pockets. Does anyone know if the soldiers would have been browsing amongst each other? I have heard that soldiers used to "look and see if their hats matched each other" to determine union from confederate through the smoke. This image disproves that theory!!!!!!!

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Hi,

You would not be able to tell by the color of the jacket even if it is a Richmond depot style 2, because it could be made of English Army Cloth, which would be almost the same color as a Federal uniforms. I do not know this but weren't State jackets generally a early war item. Of course there were some New York regiments got state jackets into late 1864.


Andrew Kasmar

4th Missouri Company E

[1stMaine]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Fellers,

Those could also be mounted services jackets with the trim pulled off, which has been noted before.

As to the disunity of uniformity, I might also posit that these fellows may well be from different units. They might be going on furlough, or they might well be returning to their units from a convalescent camp, or from furloughs, etc. In any case, there are few arms noted, and it's possible that the two fellowd WITH rifles might well be either guarding this crew on their way back to the front (which was documented by Rice Bull) or else the local sentries jawing with these fellows passing through.

I am NOT saying that everyone in a specific unit always wore the same uniform, BUT, this motley crew might well be fellows from a variety of units all headed to the same general location.

Respects,

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

I am NOT saying that everyone in a specific unit always wore the same uniform, BUT, this motley crew might well be fellows from a variety of units all headed to the same general location.

That seems very feasible and is likely the correct answer with this photograph.

Perhaps this could also be why a good bit of the men are in different clusters i.e. hanging out with the guys that they know(this may be looking too much into it though).

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Friends, here are some more closeups taken from the shot:



Looks like a cluster of guys talking to a woman and a few children.


"b..b..b..b..book got pictures brother?"





and my favorite....the completely disinterested pickets. So far as I can tell, they are the only guys in the shot with weapons. Note that one has his bayonet attached and the other does not. Also, does the one on the right look like he's wearing his cartridge belt under his jacket?

[roundshot]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Here's an 1864 photo of the 17th Illinois from "The Image of War, Vol. IV." You decide if state jackets were worn that late in the war.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Hi,

Thank you for the photo, and for clearing the state jacket issue up for me.


Andrew Kasmar

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Photos like this give us a rare opportunity to see these men in their most human form. Aside from what they are wearing, you see this image and can not help but to ask yourself what are those groups talking about? Are they from different units, or just clicks within one (which still happens today). Those fellas over there sleeping were tired for some reason...why? The civilians in the back ground and the various expressions on faces eluding to personality.
We could never "look too far into" this. No poses, no ranks, or present arms. Just men.

Brandon Jolly

[Brian Baird]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

I had at one time a copy of a letter written by a soldier in the 17th from Buda, Illinois and he wrote home that the regiment had it's picture taken. The date of the letter 1863 after the capture of Vicksburg. John Pillars may have a copy of the letter.
Brian Baird

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Photos like this give us a rare opportunity to see these men in their most human form. Aside from what they are wearing, you see this image and can not help but to ask yourself what are those groups talking about? Are they from different units, or just clicks within one (which still happens today). Those fellas over there sleeping were tired for some reason...why? The civilians in the back ground and the various expressions on faces eluding to personality.
We could never "look too far into" this. No poses, no ranks, or present arms. Just men.

Brandon Jolly

You're right BJ, I can't recall a photo from the war where personality and human nature are more prevalent.

These are the guys that look like they might be smiling:

[Mtn.Guerilla]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Thanks for the closeups on this photo. I have always loved those photos of "pre-downtown" chattanooga .I believe this is near the present day Chattanooga Choo-Choo area. I have never been forunate enough though, to check out the detail like that until your post. It's amazing the variety of everything thing you see and not a reb in sight. It would be intersting to look at some of the other photos from this collection that claim to have "rebels waitng on prisoner transports" and see what pops up. Thanks again.

[jake.koch]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

I thought it was interesting to see a decent amount the men were wearing boots rather than brogans. Its a great example of the "citizen soldier". Just look at the different ways they are wearing their uniforms. There was one wearing a shell or state jacket with the collar down like a sack, then the different creases on the front of some of the frocks in civilian style. The different hat folds were interesting as well. Great photo, thanks for posting it.

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

These guys are almost definitely rebs at Chattanooga. The image came from the Library of Congress site.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Confederate prisoners and Union soldiers together

Is that the same exact spot as the other image?

Brandon J