Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

[GreencoatCross]

When I saw this today it blew my socks off. Thought you cavalry types would appreciate it!

http://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15138coll6/id/2696/rec/30

EDIT! I have the regiment wrong in the title. It's a tintype of Co. D, SECOND Tennessee Cavalry.

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Brian -

THANKS so much for posting this!! I saw your post on FB and have spent several minutes looking at it - and will spend much more this evening. NOTE: There's a slider bar above the photo that allows the viewer to zoom in and move around the photo.

Can't wait to see the comments here!!

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Looks like a mix of Merrill and Burnside carbines plus Colt-Root Revolving Rifles. Note the solder at far left taking a swig from a bottle, and very short young kid in the second row to the left of the guidon.

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Some quick takes:
--Only a few sabers - kinda looks like only officers and NCOs are carrying sabers - I count 6?
--Trooper sixth from far right who seems to have reversed his holster from the normal "cross draw" position.
--Lack of shoulder straps on saber/pistol belts
--Lack of jacket trim
-- Only a few sack / fatigue coats
-- Not seeing any carbine slings
-- Footwear is interesting - appears to be lots of boots (can't really tell)

[CompanyWag]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

What an odd assemblage of shoulder arms...a nightmare to resupply ammunition.

I'm not so sure the trim has been removed from all the jackets. Several of the boys that managed to leave their collars up show the presence of the two buttons for the false buttonholes, something that would've been lost had the trim been removed. I would be suspicious that the yellow trim isn't showing up because of the blue-sensitive photographic emulsions, at least on some of these troopers.

I love the rough-and-tumble look of these fellows!

[Mark Choate]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Brian,

This is a treat! I have been just scrolling up and down the line and looking at those faces and their accoutrements. A feast for the eyes, for sure.

What a variety of head wear.........yet I did not see a single kepi. The fella in the rear that is hitting the "hooch" must have known that the photo was being taken and either did not care or maybe wanted it to be seen. Lot of character in this shot.

Thanks a lot for sharing this photo.

The men of this unit were heavily out of Maryville, TN and the surrounding Blount county area. This is approximately 15 - 20 miles south of Knoxville. This was only a few miles from the current boundary of Smoky Mtn National park so these rough faces that you are looking at are in some cases mountain men. Quite a story in each case.

thanks,
Mark

[Pvt. Shattuck]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Does anyone else think that several of the faces look strangely feminine?

[FlatLandFed]

Re: Tintype of 3rd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

"What a variety of head wear.........yet I did not see a single kepi."

I'm no Starbuck, but it appears to me that one of the officers has a rubber rain cover over his kepi? Perhaps it's a forage cap just scrunched down ...
Nice photo indeed.
Paul Hadley
Sadly unfamiliar with pony types

[Mississippian]

Re: Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

I don't think they look feminine, I think they look young. This photo just screams "southern unionist" at me. Especially the hats, based on photos I've seen, unionist units tend to have a high percentage of civilian hats and modified hardee hats.

This regiment got around quite a bit, they fought with Sooy Smith's expedition that ended when Forrest routed the column at Okalona. Smith blamed the 2nd for part of the defeat, while the men of the 2nd said they were scapegoated to save the honor of the 4th U.S. Regulars, who had also routed. I've been past those battlefields many many times.

Will MacDonald

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Gents-

A variety of headgear is an under statement...wow! I do see one man, besides the officer, wearing what looks to be a forage cap. The 2nd man in from the officer with the tinted sash.

I would agree these soldiers have a hodge-podge of weapons. Many of them are not even carbines.

[roundshot]

Re: Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Want to see more outstanding images such as that one of Tennessee Union Cavalry? Check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Tennessees-Uni.../dp/0738567477 The photos therein are unbelievable.

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

Thank for the posting! Everyone has already said what I thought !I love the picture!

[Jimmayo]

Don't see much stuff from Tenn. Cav.



Side knife made from a bayonet used by Charles Gentry, Co D, 2nd Tenn. Cav. I believe there was two 2nd Tenn Cavs. If memory serves me right Gentry was in one of the Confederate units but I don't know which one. Too many stacks of stuff to look it up.

I saw his sword, belt and knife many years ago at a show. Only had enough money to buy the knife. His sword was an English import. I don't remember what kind of belt he had. Wish I could have gotten the whole rig.

[Old-South]

Re: Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

If you notice, some of the MSJs have their collars folded under. If memory serves me this was a "jaunty" style also done with sack coats. I also do not see a lot of spurs. Actually, I don't maybe one with a spur strap.
Great photo!

[CompanyWag]

Re: Tintype of 2nd (East) Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D, Tinted.

I'm really drawn to this image like moths to a candle. I was just looking again today and noticed what appears to be a Henry rifle on the shoulder of the fourth guy to the right of the officer...or am I seeing things?