Ebay image of soldier with alligator(?)

[johnf1862]

What in the world could this be...possibly a 79th NY image?
From Wikipedia:

Throughout 1861, the 79th spent their time skirmishing with odd bands of Confederates. They also burnt the properties of known Rebel sympathisers. In their spare time, the regiment also acquired some pets, including two dogs and an alligator! One of the dogs, named "Tip" because it was missing a leg, was adopted as the regimental mascot and served with the Highlanders for the rest of the war.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300079926745&rd=1&rd=1

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Ebay image of soldier with alligator(?)

Nope,

Some of us found that image online a few years ago. At that time it was identified as Wllm. Rolls of the 33rd (I believe) Illinois. Apparently he caught the little bugger and kept him long enough to be mustered out and took him back to Illinois.

Ive always wondered where that image was as it was one of my favorites. I wish I could blow the money. I've also always wanted to read some of the local newspapers after he got home to see if there were any reported Illinois gator attacks.

By the way: Tip, the mascot of the 79th was so named due to the white tip of his tail. Never trust wikipedia.

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Ebay image of soldier with alligator(?)

Just a kind FYI, the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Systems brought a match to a Pvt. William H. Rolls of the 120th Regiment, Illinois Infantry.

What an interesting guy!

[CYoungJSU]

Re: Ebay image of soldier with alligator(?)

John,

I must echo Justin here...Never, Never, Never trust Wikipedia!!! It is definately not a scholarly source and can be edited by [U]anyone[U]. Yes, I said anyone because I have made some changes on there myself. Therefore, any yahoo can go on the website and make up what he/she wants about a subject and pass it off as truth. Now, I'm not saying that the website information is total false. There are some interesting tidbits of information on there, but you always need to back up this information with scholarly evidence. I have seen countless numbers of undergraduate students use Wikipedia as a source of information and even put it as a reference in their works cited page. Fortunately, these students are promplty raked over the coals for using a source that is not scholarly and has no backing. Always do your research!

Chris