Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

[Cumpston1862]

Gents-

On the AC homepage there is a new picture posted of three soldiers "near Petersburg" and the one standing looks to be smoking a pipe. Is that a blemish on the picture or did the photographer actually catch this soldier blowing a couple of smoke rings?

Or do I need a new computer?

[JimConley]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

The image is, of course, from the LOC: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/...p/~ammem_WMbm:

It appears that what you are seeing is a blemish on the image rather than smoke.

TITLE: [Petersburg, Va. Military telegraph operators at headquarters].

CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864 August.

SUMMARY: Photograph from the main eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865.

NOTES:
Reference: Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 / compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge, Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1977. No. 0376
Title from Milhollen and Mugridge.
Corresponding print is in LOT 4188.
Forms part of Selected Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 (Library of Congress)

CALL NUMBER: LC-B817- 7478

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
LC-DIG-cwpb-03988 DLC (digital file from original neg.)
LC-B8171-7478 DLC (b&w film neg.)

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

Check out dude's jacket. two pockets at about the 3rd button. private purchase?

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

Jim- Thanks for the higher resolution and additional pic/info. I would agree with you 100%. That is a blemish not smoke rings. For those to have been smoke rings would have been pretty amazing considering how quickly smoke dissipates...oh well.

And the jacket is certainly different. Either a private purchase or field modified.

[FlatLandFed]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

De-telescoped hat?
I'm wondering about the hat atop the seated lad in the lighter trowsers. Did he telescope a beehive style hat and then pop out just the center to achieve this look, or was the hat sold like that? Or am I just missing he might have a hat band of a similar color material?
Thanks for sharing.
Paul Hadley

[GenuineInformation]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

To my eyes, it also looks like the buttons on that jacket have been moved over a bit. Maybe a field modification after some weight loss, or maybe done by a tailor to move a jacket he'd been sitting on?

[teufelhund]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

... And the fella sitting in front of the gent in question could be wearing a field altered Federal sack coat. The collar seems to be similar to a Federal sack coat. His jacket collar and button spacing seem to have the characteristics of a Federal sack coat also. Buttons seem to look like Federal eagle buttons?

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

I always liked that you could see the shadow of the quilting on the lining from the outside of "smoker's" jacket.

[JimConley]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

De-telescoped hat?
I'm wondering about the hat atop the seated lad in the lighter trowsers. Did he telescope a beehive style hat and then pop out just the center to achieve this look, or was the hat sold like that? Or am I just missing he might have a hat band of a similar color material?
Thanks for sharing.
Paul Hadley

Paul,
It certainly appears that there is a crease near the top of the crown. I take it he probably punched out the top to achieve that style. Seen some fellows in the hobby do this with old flat top and/or telescope style hats as well. Looks pretty good once the crease disappears through wear and tear.

[JimConley]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

... And the fella sitting in front of the gent in question could be wearing a field altered Federal sack coat. The collar seems to be similar to a Federal sack coat. His jacket collar and button spacing seem to have the characteristics of a Federal sack coat also. Buttons seem to look like Federal eagle buttons?

Marc,
Is this the fellow you are referring to? If so, I would estimate that the coat is either private purchase or even civilian. If it were an issue fatigue blouse, there would be another button hole closer to the collar.

Or, are you referring to the same gent that Paul was (attached once again)? That coat appears to be an issue blouse. I didn't note any sign of field altering, however. But, it does appear his sleeves are a bit too long and he rolled the cuff inside his sleeve.

[JimConley]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

While we're on the subject of Petersburg photos and hats, check some of these out. Had to also include the guy with the killer pipe. And, do you think the last guy attached would pass with that hat at an event?! :sarcastic From: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

TITLE: [Petersburg, Va. Company D, U.S. Engineer Battalion].

CREATED/PUBLISHED:
1864 August.

SUMMARY:
Photograph from the main eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865.

NOTES:
Reference: Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 / compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge, Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1977. No. 0382
Title from Milhollen and Mugridge.
Corresponding print is in LOT 4190-C.
Forms part of Selected Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 (Library of Congress)

CALL NUMBER:
LC-B817- 7054

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
LC-DIG-cwpb-03670 DLC (digital file from original neg.)
LC-B8171-7054 DLC (b&w film neg.)

[JimConley]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

Or, how about these fellows from the same image grouping? From: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

TITLE: [Petersburg, Va. Company A, U.S. Engineer Battalion].

CREATED/PUBLISHED:
1864 August.

SUMMARY:
Photograph from the main eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865.

NOTES:
Reference: Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 / compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge, Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1977. No. 0379
Title from Milhollen and Mugridge.
Corresponding print is in LOT 4190-C.
Forms part of Selected Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 (Library of Congress)

CALL NUMBER:
LC-B817- 7062

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
LC-DIG-cwpb-03678 DLC (digital file from original neg.)
LC-B8171-7062 DLC (b&w film neg.)

[Coatsy]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

Jim, you posted "Killer Aron's" picture. The gent in your second photo definitely has the "muderize" face going. But, all silliness aside, I noticed that three of the four men in your close ups look to be wearing the issue shirt, even "Killer Aron." But, the contrast of the men sitting down with the checked shirts is interesting too. All in all, a great shot of men "in the field". Thanks!

[JimConley]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

FROCK COATS!!! And some private purchase blouses.

From: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

TITLE: Petersburg, Virginia. Company D.

CREATED/PUBLISHED:
1864 Nov.

NOTES:
Title from Civil War caption books.
Caption from negative sleeve: Co. D, 149th. Pennsylvania Infantry November 1864.
Corresponding print is in LOT 4190-D.
Forms part of Civil War glass negative collection (Library of Congress).

CALL NUMBER:
LC-B817- 7388

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
LC-DIG-cwpb-04385 DLC (digital file from original neg.)

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Petersburg Soldiers Pic-Homepage

Did anyone notice the one fella with the wad of chew in his mouth?

Also, nice to see not everyone has a beard either- even in the field. Perhaps they had time to clean-up before the image-maker took the picture.

They look like many of the people you or I might know in the hobby.

Awesome pic.