For you viewing pleasure...

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Folks, to my knowledge this image has never been viewed by the public. It's of a 6th Illinois Cavalryman, complete with Grimsley equipments and Cosmopolitan carbine! That means it's should be somewhere in the circe of 1861-62. The quality isn't great (it's a scan of a scan) but it is the only known close-up mounted image of a 6th ILL cavalryman. It is ID'ed but I don't have it, I was lucky to get this from the decendant/ owner... Needless to say besides the owner and the guy who talked him into giving me this scan, we are the ONLY ones who have seen it...
Enjoy, Zack

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Sorry it's huge... I wanted you to be able to make out what details you could see... Z

[Mark Choate]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Zack,

This is really a treat! You must have nearly wet yourself when you first saw it, ha. :wink_smil Seriously, what a great find. Notice the valise which we were discussing a while back.

I also notice the double reins which were seen somewhat frequently. I have actually only used them once, personally. Do you have a lot of experience riding with double reins, Zack? I know that in the proper hands, they can be a good tool.

Thanks a lot for finding and showing this.

regards,
Mark

[Mike Ventura]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Zack --

Any idea or thoughts on the shabraque? Is that a standard Grimsley equipment? And it kind of looks like a Sibley tent in the background...

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Mark & Mike, Indeed I was quite tickled when this deal came through! At first I thought the guy to be an officer except the carbine and I can't make out any shoulder straps. The use of valise and a shabraque by an enlisted even early was is unusual. I think the 1st and 2nd Ill. Cav. were issued Mac's then the 3-7th recieved surplus Grimsley equipments until official government saddlery came avaliable. I also didn't think that the shabraque was an item of issue with Grimsley saddles, but I need to look deeper into that assumption. I've only tried double reins once, it would take much more practice than what I've given it to be proficient with them... And someone with more quardination than I have too... Glad you like the image. Z

[Ken Knopp]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Quite the amalgamation! All kinds of good stuff to look at! What rank was he? He could still be an field grade officer despite the use of a carbine. Any idea when you can get a name and rank for this guy? Great photo Zack!!

Ken R Knopp

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

I've actually had this image for several years, but had misplaced it... I found it this past week going through stuff. Todd (who arranged for me to get this copy) has since moved to Japan and I am trying to get a hold of him about this among other things. I don't know who owns the original, but Todd does. He insisted the owner said it was of his Gggrandpa, he was in the 6th Illinois cavalry and (supposedly) enlisted… The owner was adamant about remaining anonymous about owning this image... much similar to saying "private collection" on a web page or in a book. If I get a break, I’ll pass it on… Z

[TexCavly]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Carbine is on the "wrong" side with his saber.

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

I assume he slung it around to the left side for the image (assuming this is a reversed image) Also, he could have been left handed too. It would be awkard to shoot right-sided if he was a lefty. I've seen a few longrifles that were pre-war that were made for left handed shooters... we may never know. Z

[Tom Craig]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Super cool picture!

It is rare to find a photo of a CW trooper all decked out with dress hat AND mounted. I am leaning towards thinking that this fellow is a trooper, on an officer's horse. The image is obviously fuzzy, but isn't that a pommel holster on the front of the saddle, angled with the muzzle toward the horses chest? That would also explain the shabraque.

I would most certainly bet dollars to donuts that this guy has just placed his sabre on his right side for the photograph...it was super common in Federal mounted images. Interestingly, you'll notice that the rings on the scabbard have been tinted. Probably just artistic, but it could add a confusing detail saying that the man was actually wearing an officer's sabre??

Based on the dress hat, Cosmo. carbine and what would appear to be some sort of version of an MSJ (no rank for an officer) I am having to conclude that this guy was an early war trooper out showing off on an officer's horse.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[Ken Doyon]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

I have to go with Tom on this one, not to mention he has double reined too boot. I don’t see a common trooper riding double reined

Ken Doyon
1st Maine Cavalry

[Michael Comer]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Would one of you fellows explain the need or use of the double reins? That is something new to my limited knowledge of cavalry and I'm curious as to what advantages or disadvantages it had.

[Outrider]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Hi Mike, Despite the sometimes questionable information given from the source on some subjects, this is actually a pretty well written and IMO, accurate explanation of the double bridle, its uses and its history. Note that the biting arrangement employed by the trooper is a double reined dragoon bit much like a Pelham bit that employs two sets of reins on one bit which mimics the action of a double bridle arrangement which is two separate bits each having their own set of reins. Both biting arrangements were quite popular and common in the CW period, well before that, and remain so now.
This can explain it all better than I can, at least, without showing you in person.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bridle

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Gents, the 3rd-7th Illinois cavalries were outfitted with surplus Mex War saddlery! Explains the 1850 Dragoon bit, valise and possibly the pomel holsters and shabraque. Illinois bought nearly the entire production run of Cosmoplitan carbines... I'll check issues of pistols in Arming The Suckers. I know at least one fellow from Illinois carried Colt Navies in Mex War pommel holsters. There is very little doubt he's a Sucker or son of Egypt. The State also issued a milita jacket much like the New York State coat, this jacket shows up in nearly every infantry image of Illinoians even as late as the Atlanta Campaign. Another thing to consider early War issue of Illinois uniforms were gray... Could his be? Food for thought. Z

[ButtermilkRanger]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

I'm no expert on all things Union, but everything about the horse equipment screams officer to me. The shabraque, the brass rosettes on the valise, the double reins, etc. I could be wrong, but weren't the valises issued with enlisted Grimsley horse equipments usually dark blue wool with little to no ornamentation? I'd be willing to bet that this valise is officer-grade leather. But the nagging part that gets me is why is an enlisted man posing on an officer's horse? First of all, it's a blatant breach of protocol, and secondly, what self-respecting cavalryman lets someone else ride his horse?