Enfield Gear?

[Peachfuz]

I started looking at some of the Barnard photos from Sherman's occupation of Atlanta, in particular the one of the Federal pickets. I found something interesting, the guy on the extreme right looks to be wearing a British style frog and scabbard. Does it seem reasonable that after capturing the stores there, they could have issued some gear to troops in need? What do you think?

Here is the link to the photo on the LOC site: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/.../~ammem_Vvtf::

[Ken Cornett]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Rich,

Nice photo first of all. I tell you, I looked at your close up for quite a while. It's really tough to distinguish what is actually there. I can't tell for certain what kind of scabbard it is. And I am fairly certain it is empty and bent. But what do I know. Anyone else?

Hope you make the event!

[Peachfuz]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Ken,
No question I could be wrong, it’s been know to happen before (just ask my wife!), but it looks British to me. I see the scabbard portion running parallel to the fellas leg, the brass at the tip and throat being visible. Then the frog portion seems to be bent out from the belt due to the slack created by the wearer sitting down.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Rich:

I took another shot at a clear close up of the scabbard. It definitely doesn't look like the typical two or seven rivet. The triangular metal piece seems to indicate a frog, but I am not familar enough with other types to determine for sure. Googling as we speak.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[Iron Scout]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Folks,

Just an opinion here. To me at first glance it looks Federal due to the appearance of the acorn &/or point on the tip. Also, given the thin weight of the leather used in many originals, the frog could have easily folded creating that effect. Interesting for sure though...

Neill Rose
PLHA

[10TnVI]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Other interesting/odd things of no particular note-
1-the structure on the left appears to have a considerable pile of bricks stacked in it.Note also the quantity of brick scattered around the foreground.
2-although wearing cartridge boxes and waistbelts, there are no canteens or haversacks in view, nor knapsacks/bedrolls.
3-the officer(assuming he is one from the sword) is wearing dark blue pants with stripe, but doesn't sport any apparent shoulder insignia.
4-with the exception of the guy standing on the parapet, rifles appear to have been stacked somewhere out of frame(thus the empty bayonet scabbards)-guess the guys aren't real worried about the enemy showing up:-)
5-the post on the right appears to have once been a gatepost. It still seems to be sporting a gate pivot pin(at least it looks just like those still in use for large gates)
6-the earthworks are in pretty bad shape, suggesting they are probably CS created re-purposed.

[Coatsy]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Perhaps it could be one of the vaunted "field repairs" that us authentics tend to shun sometimes . But after looking very very closely at the closeup that ET made I have to agree with Neill. It looks like the scabbard frog could have folded back since the gent is sitting down. Good discussion though!

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Enfield Gear?

I'm pretty sold its a typical Fed scabbard for what little its worth. I took one of my older scabbards laying around just a few minutes ago and it bent up pretty much like that one. If you bend your scabbard forward as you're sitting down, thats the shape you get. Thanks Eric for the blow-up. The acorn on the tip also sells it.

[yeoman]

Re: Enfield Gear?

Sir, at this site http://djvued.libs.uga.edu/E468x7xM647/phcwmenu.html go to Volume Three, page 68, there you will find a slightly different composition of this scene, hope you enjoy the site.