"New" mounted photo...

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Hey fellas, you all might want to check this out... killer photo with the article. TEH
http://www.civilwarnews.com/archive/...ill-111204.htm

[Doughboy]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Wow! Sure looks like AP Hill. brought up a couple of photos and compared. If it isn't he's scary similar.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Yea!! great photo but "if".... if it is truly AP Hill .......a BIG "IF"!!
From what I can surmise from the reading (there is limited "real evidence...er...no...let me change that.... only ultra light conjecture at this point here) so, its going to be very hard if not impossible, to authenticate this photo as AP Hill. Perhaps someday high density image resolution combined with forensic and face imaging technology may provide a clearer answer but for now, its all only speculation.

OK, having said that. One point made in the piece was that there are NO other outdoor photos of "mounted" CS General officers (except that of "Lee") ......well, that is wrong. There is at least one more....an unpublished photo of John Bell Hood on horse back, with his staff, taken outside at his headquarters at Traveller's Rest (home) in Nashville. It was taken during the siege of Nashville in December 1864. I have never seen it (at least not in adulthood...somewhere in my memory banks I recall seeing such a photo published somewhere (?) but I may be wishfull thinking or even hallucinating) but, several years ago I talked with the owner of the photo. He described it which interestingly shows Hood on horseback with his "crutch", his staff and a headquarters wagon (as I recall). He tells me the photo is quite clear and comes with unimpeachable family documentation. Sadly, while he once promised to send me a scan of it...he never did and later, would not relent. The man is a "Hood collector" also owning other items belonging to Hood.

Too bad too, mounted CS photos of "any" kind are exceedingly rare much less a high ranking CS officer during the war.

Oh well, Maybe someday.......

Ken R Knopp

For "other" CS mounted photos check out my web site.....

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[CompanyWag]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

I'm a subscriber to the philosophy that anything like this should be considered ordinary until proven exceptional. As tantalizing as the proposition may seem, I think the new owner is really reaching here. Without anything more to go on, it is best to accept that this unidentified image is a fine, valuable and interesting example based solely on the unusual subject matter and pose. Anything more than that is pure speculation and wishful thinking.

[ScottCross]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

This really is a wonderful image, but I have to agree with Mr. Knopp and Mr. McKee that it is a real stretch to say this is A. P. Hill. The subject is entirely dressed in civilian clothing and even his saddle looks civilian. The boy holding the backdrop does not appear to be a Confederate to me either.

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Boys, I shared this because it is a "new" mounted photo come to light... I could care less if it is AP Hill, Robert E Lee or Abe Lincoln, I was sharing the source of the photo with you all here nothing more. TEH

[CompanyWag]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Boys, I shared this because it is a "new" mounted photo come to light... I could care less if it is AP Hill, Robert E Lee or Abe Lincoln, I was sharing the source of the photo with you all here nothing more. TEH

And I am glad you did, for it IS a great mounted image on its own merit without having hopes of it being some luminary as the owner in the article seems to be hanging his hat on.

[Doughboy]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Not disagreeing at all. But whoever it is does bear a striking resemblance to AP Hill.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Zack,

I hope you know I (and I suggest no one else here) was not casting any personal aspersions on you. On the contrary, I am glad you posted this link and the info. These are the kind of things about which we should share, discuss and yes, banter and even disagree. I just take issue with the author's stretch for credulity. Even that, in my book, is a good thing because I really like it when someone has the fervent passion to stick his neck out for that which he believes strongly. The man has established his point, shown his hand in research and now makes his case to the public for assistance (and judgement). You gotta admire that.

Ken R Knopp

[Bmanz1085]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Ken,
I feel exactly as you do on the authors stretching somewhat circumstantial evidence to give credibility to his conclusions. This may very well be AP Hill, the question is when/where was it taken? Now I will assume that the building behind the subject is not his headquarters. I will assume that he would have taken residence in an actual residence and not in a soldier built winter hut.
In short, it would be nice to see a prewar image of AP Hill, perhaps this photo was taken before he entered Confederate Service, I don't know.

[rbruno]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

I don't want to make an assumption on what reasons Zack posted the photo, but taken the AP Hill discussion out, do I see a horned saddle with prominent knee rolls? Could it be one of the half Spanish saddles we have discussed before. Basically a horned saddle built on an English tree. I can't tell if that first fold under the saddle is a saddle blanket or part of the saddle. It looks like a snaffle bit on maybe a halter/bridle combo. He does have an unusual seat for a rider. I don't know how he gets his right leg (at least in the photo) to sit like that. Even when I try to "stretch" my legs in the saddle and keeping my feet in the stirrups, I can't get my leg to angle out like that. Kind of gives a picture that not every man riding a horse had a perfect seat and posture. Just wanted to maybe send the discussion back to a mounted discussion which may have been the original intent.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Here is a quick update.....

In an earlier post I said the following....

"OK, having said that. One point made in the piece was that there are NO other outdoor photos of "mounted" CS General officers (except that of "Lee") ......well, that is wrong. There is at least one more....an unpublished photo of John Bell Hood on horse back, with his staff, taken outside at his headquarters at Traveller's Rest (home) in Nashville. It was taken during the siege of Nashville in December 1864. I have never seen it (at least not in adulthood...somewhere in my memory banks I recall seeing such a photo published somewhere (?) but I may be wishfull thinking or even hallucinating) but, several years ago I talked with the owner of the photo. He described it which interestingly shows Hood on horseback with his "crutch", his staff and a headquarters wagon (as I recall). He tells me the photo is quite clear and comes with unimpeachable family documentation. Sadly, while he once promised to send me a scan of it...he never did and later, would not relent. The man is a "Hood collector" also owning other items belonging to Hood."

As a result of this, I was contacted by a couple of museum folks, including Brian Allison of Traveler's Rest regarding this photo. He of course, was very interested in it. So, I tried my best to re-contact the so called "Hood Collector" to no avail. AFter some discussion between us, Brian remembered looking at a photo years ago that was offered him by the folks at Carnton in Franklin Tenn. A scan of this photo was offered to Carnton for authentication by a collector as part of their display of a saddle claimed to be Hood's and used during the war. Anyway, it all turned out to be the same collector and photo that I vaguely remembered. Brian remembered looking at the photo and finally determining that it could not have been taken at Travelor's Rest in Nov 1864 because first, the vehicles were all wrong for an army in the field and second, there was foilage on the tree- entirely incorrect for the time and season of the battle.
I must also add that after examing the saddle I really do not believe it could have been a war time saddle. Perhaps it was Hood's but in my opinion not during the war.
So there we are...."The Rest of the Story"!?????

Ken R Knopp

[MuleyGil]

Re: "New" mounted photo...

Looks a bit like "Devil Anse" Hatfield, from the Hatfield & McCoy feud.