Union troops playing ball

[OleMissRebel]

No, I wish they were playing baseball too (that would be a real find!).....but it looks like they are playing the old "kick a deflated basketball" game.

This is the 13th New York Heavy Artillery regiment in camp at Petersburg. No other info is given:



Note the ole boy with the sleeves of his sack coat rolled up:

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Union troops playing ball

Hi,

I wonder if the man second farthest to the right is a reporter or an artist, he appears to be wearing civilian clothing.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Union troops playing ball

Hi,

I wonder if the man second farthest to the right is a reporter or an artist, he appears to be wearing civilian clothing.

Gotta be a civilian methinks.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Union troops playing ball

See this other thread on the subject of football, where all enjoyed analyzing that photo.

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8260

[JLHurst]

Re: Union troops playing ball

It's clearly obvious that the first photo is that of a kicker and placeholder. :tounge_sm
Laces out Finkle!

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Union troops playing ball

It's clearly obvious that the first photo is that of a kicker and placeholder. :tounge_sm
Laces out Finkle!

What do you guys think that kickball is made out of?

The guy with the dog between his legs looks like he's playing around with something in his had with the dog?

What say you?

[toolmaker1967]

Re: Union troops playing ball

Look how tall the A tents are. Why so tall? These are biggest A tents I seen.
David Hardman

[JLHurst]

Re: Union troops playing ball

What do you guys think that kickball is made out of?

Looks to be a bag of some sort. It's odd shape of not being perfectlly round is suspect to that. But kicking or hitting it around could be the culprit for shape.

The guy with the dog between his legs looks like he's playing around with something in his had with the dog?

I shutter to think about what it could be, (dog lover here). It looks like a spoon, maybe some sort of toy to throw for the dog?

By the way, chances are high of a Charlie Brown vs. Lucy senerio on the first pic as well.:D

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Union troops playing ball

Look how tall the A tents are. Why so tall? These are biggest A tents I seen.
David Hardman

The tents are both wall tents and A tents. They appear to have wooden bases under the tents.

RM

[lukegilly13]

Re: Union troops playing ball

Maybe they are possing the dog/cat to look as if he is going to "block" the ball? It does look to me like they are setting up what we now call a fieldgoal.
FYI (as if anyone cares) A lot of people think that we call our sport "football" from the earlier latin word "futbol" that translates as what we call "soccer". In actuality, we call it football because the ball was originally a foot long from point to point (through the axis or middle of the ball).
My guess is that these guys are just playing "lets see who can kick the rag ball over the tents".

[JLHurst]

Re: Union troops playing ball

Could be a sack of mail for the provost. . .

Could be a head in there too. . .

But I'll lean towards Mr. Gilly's idea. "Here's some sort of ball. let's do something. Winter Quarters is boring."

Charlie Brown vs. Lucy senario still playing out in my mind after the photo was taken. Mates can't resist the urge to mess with each other. No pun intended. :D

[rbruno]

Re: Union troops playing ball

My compliments to Ryan for posting these pictures. They are all great to look at and study. What ever process you are using to enlarge and show sections of the pictures again are great. I enjoy looking at all the images that have been posted. Keep it up!
Rob Bruno
1st MD Cav

[DaveGink]

Re: Union troops playing ball

The man in the 5th photo down, with collar out over his vest (1970s style) appears in another photo of this unit I have uploaded here. It's titled: Petersburg, Virginia. Group of 13th NY heavy Artillery - Winter camp. I see in the 6th photo down, the large bearded man in the back is also in that photo -- as well as the man from the 4th photo down wearing the vest and sack coat. This is just a small section of a much larger photo that can be found on the LoC site.

[tater_cuffie]

Re: Union troops playing ball

yaea that would be a REALLY cool find if they were plain rounders ( period baseball ) bt i agree with the gent that said they were plaing kick ball

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Union troops playing ball

yaea that would be a REALLY cool find if they were plain rounders ( period baseball ) bt i agree with the gent that said they were plaing kick ball

I'd give a large amount of money to find a picture of them playing baseball.