Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

This image was taken of Colonel Dickey in Cairo, IL (believed to be 1861). It came to me from Ronald R Wallace at http://4thillinoiscavalry.tripod.com/ Not your typical officer image but cool. I like the spyglass and Grimsley equipments... TEH

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

Zack,

Neat image. Very unusual. Love the "ready for the fileld" look and note the blankets, overcoat, etc. How old was Col Dickey? He looks a bit "long in the tooth" to be in the field. Any history on him? Thanks for sharing this. Great stuff!

Ken R Knopp

[LWhite64]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

Wow, that is cool.

Lee

[LWhite64]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

He entered service in August of 1861 and resigned in February of 1863.

Lee

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

Dickey was a Captian of an infantry company during the Mex War. He and Lincoln were friends until Lincoln went abolitionist... Note the Feb 1863 resignation was right after the Emancipation Proclamation, of January 1, 1863... Several Illinois officers resigned then... Unusual to see the large bed rolls fore and aft on the saddle...

The 4th was issued Grimsleys and "November 22,1862- We drew new McClland [sic] saddles and turned over our old Grimseys [sic]." Phienas O. Avery, History of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry Regiment. Humbolt, Nebraska,1903

[AZFarrier]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

All Hale the Col's Horse, may he be stout enough to carry the officer and all his crap.:wink_smil As a reenactor who has slept on the ground for many years I am the first to tell you I won't turn away comforts. Also as a cavalryman I will try to pack as much as I can safely carry with out tiring my horse. I do think it was early war becuse of the excess equipment that he is carrying. I initially though it was a pose but I re read the posts and say that he was in the infantry in the MEX war.
Very cool photo, it might ba a good example of a field officer early in the war, with out the experience of years of campaigns that this picture preceeds.

Ken: It's not the years it the miles!:D

[W. K. Osman]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

That Dickey image was taken at the corner of his mansion on the north bluffs in Ottawa, Illinois. The mansion still stands, though is now broken into several apartments.

The original photo, in an oval walnut frame, currently hangs on my office wall as I type this. I bought it in Ottawa around 40 years ago, along with the frock coat that Dickey wears in the photo! The frock is completely hand sewn, but otherwise a standard double breasted field officer's frock coat with eagle C buttons.

There is another CdV that came with the coat showing Dickey standing with his daughter. No idea what became of the horse gear, but no doubt long gone.

Dickey was Chief of Cavalry under Grant at Shiloh and for some months after, and so my own ancestor's commander. (Austin Osman, Ford's Independent Company Illinois Cavalry)

Stephen Osman

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

Stephen,

Wow!! What a coincidence and a really neat epiloge. Thank you for sharing this!

Ken R Knopp

[csabugler]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

Great pic, Zach. By the looks of that fine animal the extra weight of the blanket rolls does not appear it would be an issue for him!
However, and being a fat guy I can say this, the good Col seems to be not suffering from malnutrition, at least at the time of this pic. THAT might be an issue for the horse....

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Colonel T. Lyle Dickey

Stephen, thanks for the image information! The fella who forwarded me the copy of the image said he believed it was taken in Cairo, which is about an hour and a half south of me. This has to be my all time favorite mounted image. Thanks again, TEH