Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

[OleMissRebel]

Took these off the high-res photo from the LOC:


my woman thought this guy was "hot", by the way.

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

The thing that strikes me is the length of the soldiers hair. People say that soldiers hair was relatively short but this photo proves otherwise. Any images of confederates fresh off campaign show wonders about the life of confederate soldiers.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

That little white button in the first close-up was part of a good thread or two a couple of years ago.

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2322&highlight=ceramic+buttons

[dwar]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

The second Pic shows two rings on his left hand last finger and by the looks of the photo he was very very thin.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Hi,

Is the man in the first close up wearing a Federal shirt. It looks alot like a Confederate issue shirt, but the shoulder seam is wrong. The reason that this would surpprise me, is the fact that I have never seen Southern soldiers wearing this type of shirt before. Do any of you know how much this was done?

Andrew Kasmar

4th Missouri Company E

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

I think the image of the soldier sitting on the fence is the best and clearest picture of a Confederate "in the field" that I know of. It's stunning. It's too bad he doesn't have his cartridge box and belt.

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Does anybody know what state these guys are from? One almost looks to be wearing a NC Depot jacket.

[BrownBlanketMess]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Andrew,

From my understanding there has never been a difinitive determination as to what unit these three prisoners came from. Bill Frassanito in his book Gettysburg: A Journey In Time on page 71 states:

"The fact that these three prisoners were photographed by Brady on Seminary Ridge approximately two weeks after the battle indicates that they may have been stragglers, captured during Union mop-up operations somewhere along either the Chambersburg Pike or Hagerstown Road, Lee's main routes of retreat. Certainly it was just by chance that the prisoners happened to be on Seminary Ridge when Brady was working in the same area; as the exposure was made, Union guards undoubtedly stood only feet away.
Quite conceivably this view was recorded on July 15, the same day Brady is believed to have photographed the nearby headquarters of General Lee. If this is correct, then the soldiers pictured here were very likely among the twenty-five hundered Confederate prisoners transferred the following day, July 16, from Gettysburg toward Washington and thence to prison camps throughout the North."

Steve LaBarre
CornFed Comrades

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Andrew,

From my understanding there has never been a difinitive determination as to what unit these three prisoners came from. Bill Frassanito in his book Gettysburg: A Journey In Time on page 71 states:

"The fact that these three prisoners were photographed by Brady on Seminary Ridge approximately two weeks after the battle indicates that they may have been stragglers, captured during Union mop-up operations somewhere along either the Chambersburg Pike or Hagerstown Road, Lee's main routes of retreat. Certainly it was just by chance that the prisoners happened to be on Seminary Ridge when Brady was working in the same area; as the exposure was made, Union guards undoubtedly stood only feet away.
Quite conceivably this view was recorded on July 15, the same day Brady is believed to have photographed the nearby headquarters of General Lee. If this is correct, then the soldiers pictured here were very likely among the twenty-five hundered Confederate prisoners transferred the following day, July 16, from Gettysburg toward Washington and thence to prison camps throughout the North."

Steve LaBarre
CornFed Comrades

I never thought about them being stragglers, but that definitely makes sense.

I have no way of really proving this, but I'd imagine if they had JUST been captured following an actual engagement they'd be much dirtier, as far as powder stains on their faces and on their hands, etc.

[Brian Wiswell]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

>I have no way of really proving this, but I'd imagine if they had JUST been captured following an actual engagement they'd be much dirtier, as far as powder stains on their faces and on their hands, etc.<


Their hands and faces appear to be relatively clean. Two of the three have clean looking shirts also. At least the last few days before this picture was easy living for them?

Interesting,

Brian Wiswell

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Their hands and faces appear to be relatively clean. Two of the three have clean looking shirts also. At least the last few days before this picture was easy living for them?

Interesting,

Brian Wiswell

My thoughts exactly.

[gfchhdgf]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Hi,

Is the man in the first close up wearing a Federal shirt. It looks alot like a Confederate issue shirt, but the shoulder seam is wrong. The reason that this would surpprise me, is the fact that I have never seen Southern soldiers wearing this type of shirt before. Do any of you know how much this was done?

Andrew Kasmar

4th Missouri Company E

I was just wondering the same thing myself. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that this, while far from the norm, wasn't an entirely uncommon practice among some confederate troops around this time.

I also notice at least among two of the soldiers what look to be nice full haversacks. Also the length of the thirds mans haversack is pretty long, I would hate marching through the north with that thing banging off of my knee at every step.

[GASharpshooter]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

Well, no matter who they are or where they're from, the photos were taken well after the battle. The shots are contrived and don't really give the viewer the impression the subject has "Dear God, don't let them send me to Camp Douglas" thoughts running through his head.

In any case, whether the men be Union men used by Brady for a photo op or actual Confederate prisoners, they probably stink to high heaven. No photo gives you that "fresh off a 30 day campaign" feeling...

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

They look to be Federal shirts, but, think about it, why would Confederate soldiers be wearing itchy wool Federal shirts when they had homespun cotton shirts available? Of course, their homespun shirts could have worn out and this was the only thing available.

[27thNCdrummer]

Re: Closeups of the three Gettysburg prisoners:

The shirt that the 3rd man has on also looks unusual. Is it just me or does it resemble the MaCrae shirt a little bit?