Interesting image

[Mike Ventura]

I just pulled this from a bunch of great images that Justin Hammond posted on his Facebook page. I don't know anything about this - who, where, etc - but find it interesting...

Thoughts? (Besides the saber seemingly affixed to the saddle).

[volcav]

Re: Interesting image

Could be an artillery unit. The thing in front of the saber looks like the sponge for an artillery piece and you can see the hand holding it but not the man the hand belongs to.

[David Fox]

Re: Interesting image

Private-purchase fatigue blouse (?) on the central fellow and a very, very odd hat, especially for a Federal. If it were houndstooth, I'd figure: Pinky Lee. Sabre looks cavalry, not artillery, to me. He sports an NCO trouser stripe and my old eyes seem to detect sergeant's stripes on his sleeve. Sturrips are also not regulation artillery, tho' there was a lot of nonstandard issue, of course. If that's rawhide peeking out behind him, I'd say McClellan saddle and not Grimsley. It also may be a rolled gum blanket or blanket, also a sign it's McClellan. That surely is a sponge-rammer in the foreground, 12 pdr by the looks of it, and well used. The second mounted man may be clutching an artillery driver's whip or quirt.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Interesting image

Hmmmm, It would appear that our mounted warrior has his saber slung from a saber belt (or does it?) but,....I find it interesting how he has it tucked behind the saddle bags to keep it from flying around. In the field, I always found keeping the saber slung from the belt hook was a better way to stabilize the durn thing (although always a pain the seat pouch). I wonder how effective this was? Any thoughts or ideas from you regular conveyors of the long-knife?
Also, no way to know for sure but the saddle pommel gives the appearance of a Texas horn, maybe a Grimsely or a high pommel mac. Maybe its an 1840's Federal wagon saddle? Who knows.
Great "in the field" photo!!

Ken R Knopp

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Interesting image

I'd say QM wagons or artillery... I'd love to see the uncropped image. I think that the fellow in the back is holding a blacksnake whip, like a drivers whip or bull whip, makes me think artillery driver. Add the whip, the sponge and what appears to be a tug (if you look under the main mans right stirrup), and I'd have to say artillery. I also noted the non regulation saddle blanket and how it's not folded to regulation... Artillery or cavalry still a cool image, it's a perios image with horses and that alone makes it alright by me! Thanks for sharing. TEH

[CJSchumacher]

Re: Interesting image

It's a detail of Capt. J. M. Knap's Penn. Battery. This was taken immediately following Antietam in September 1862. Great photo with a bunch of rough and ready guys who look like they've been to hell.