LOC photo of Sherman's bummers

[FortyRounder]

Having been inspired by other (more knowledgeable) posters, here is an image from the Selected Civil War photographs collection that I found rather intriguing:

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?cwar:2:./temp/~ammem_I9gN:T41:

Note the ragged, dishevelled, and generally unmilitary appearance of these men, which corresponds with written descriptions of Uncle Billy's boys. What is the white thing on that fellow's head, a bandage?

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Interesting that you brought up this image, as I have been stairing at this image for the past week or so. One of the things that strikes me right of is the condition of the one fellows fatigue blose and his really beat up hat. As far as what the other fellow is wearing on his head. I have no idea, maybe it is an inside joke lost to time. He seems to be having a good time.

[ThehosGendar]

You are right, Robert. This is a very, very peculiar image.

http://www.3nj.org/cartsfullimage.jpg

Two of these soldiers are very ragged. Soldier 1 has a large tear on his left sleeve, and a hole in his breast pocket. It appears as if there is something round and metallic poking out of it. A watch, perhaps?

Soldier 1 in detail:
http://www.3nj.org/tornsack.jpg

Behind him in the same row is Soldier 2, the most ragged of the group. The left arm of his sack is torn at the elbow, his trousers are frayed at the cuffs, and his shoes, particularly his right, are in very bad shape.

Soldier 2 in detail:
http://www.3nj.org/sleevegone.jpg
(Also note that the soldier behind him and in the far row has his sack tucked in.)
http://www.3nj.org/shoestrourip.jpg

The soldier over Soldier 2's right shoulder is wearing a slouch hat with a hat cord:
http://www.3nj.org/hatcord.jpg

Next is the mysterious Soldier 3. I have no idea what to make of this. I can't make out any layers or folds in indicate a wrapped towel/mock turban, though there is a slight bulge on the right-front. The edge around his head is quite evenly rounded... perhaps it's a bowl of some sort acting as a helmet?
http://www.3nj.org/towelhead.jpg
He's also the only in the group who is wearing a waistbelt.

I believe he's playing a joke, impersonating someone or just being a weirdo, because almost everyone in the group is smiling, especially Soldier 4, who's in the middle of a huge guffaw!
http://www.3nj.org/haw.jpg

The only frustrating thing about this image is that the camera's focus was set on the wheelbarrows and the artillery rounds. Had the focus been set on the men, the mysterious pseudo-turban mystery would be easily solved. However, one more interesting tidbit appears in the soldiers that are in the background, standing at the base of the earthworks. One is wearing winter gloves!
http://www.3nj.org/gloves.jpg

What do you think? Have at it, while I wash out my eyes!

[DougCooper]

Jason - think the gloves are "work gloves" - this type of work could be hard on the hands after awhile.

[Johan Steele]

THe purpose of the Gloves may be to keep the hands from being burned as I've read recently of Cannon Balls stacked in their pyramids becoming quite hot after resting in the sun all day, not to mention the pinch hazzard. THis is indeed a fascinating picture, one that requires a bit of study. Could that Turban like hat be the powder bag used in some kinds of prepared arty rounds? If that were the case I could see the joke, but it definetly is a good image, I too wish the focus had been on the men.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Remember Savanah was a Christmas present. The thoughts on the gloves are all very valid. The thing on the guys head could be a haversack liner, some sort of powderbag??? I still think the kid is some sort of wag, especialy since the kid behind him is obviously ammused. May be this is the reason for the extra duty.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kameraden!

Is it a curved scratch on the image, or does Soldier No.2 have a "stampede string?"

;-)

Always interesting when a smile is captured on period images....

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Moin moin Curt

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe we are looking at the earliest farbs :D

Another thought on headbag kid, maybe it is a crude hat replacement, judging from the other hats in the photo, its possible his went south. Also note the guy behind the guy with his sackcoat tucked into his pants, is hatless.

[hardtack1864]

Do some of these men have dark blue pants? If so it seems like these guys went Feral like Si Klegg :D and that might expalin the hat cord.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

It does look like they are wearing darkblue pants. Like we said, it is a very strang image.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

It looks as though the guy with the tucked in sackcoat has a thin belt, possibly a greatcoat strap.

[KentuckyReb]

The only thing I really hate about this picture is that if it gets around too widely, soldier #1 is gonna be the 'documetation' cited by every f__b who wears one of those shapeless 'Chico Marx' hats. :D

[tomarch]

Comrade Gendar: Could you please do one of your awesome blow ups of the soldier on the far far left? What's that on his coat?

[ThehosGendar]

Is it a curved scratch on the image, or does Soldier No.2 have a "stampede string?"

Herr Schmidt,

Here's the left and right sides of the plate. That cord is really there. You can make out a slight shadow from it by his ear. Want to bet that he's wearing a bola tie, too? :D

Left plate:
http://www.3nj.org/hatchordleft.jpg

Right plate:
http://www.3nj.org/hatchordright.jpg

Comrade Gendar: Could you please do one of your awesome blow ups of the soldier on the far far left? What's that on his coat?


http://www.3nj.org/lean.jpg

It's a shiny breastplate!

Doug,
You're probably right about the gloves. I shouldn't have jumped to the conclusion of them being winter gloves... should have just typed 'gloves'. I have to stop doing that!

What is interesting about the trousers is that the men with the wheelbarrows are wearing the darker trousers, while the soldiers in the background hanging around the bombproof are clad in sky blues. Perhaps it's two seperate units, with the wheelbarrows just passing through and the fellows in the background watching on?

[Dingus]

Herr Schmidt,

Here's the left and right sides of the plate. That cord is really there. You can make out a slight shadow from it by his ear. Want to bet that he's wearing a bola tie, too? :D


And to my eyes it looks like the string actually passes over the top of his hat. Does it look so to others? If so, it may be that this group is engaging in more than one joke here. Maybe they were conspiring to confuse future reenactors?

[hireddutchcutthroat]

They are on extraduty for being farbs :D

[Agate]

They are on extraduty for being farbs :D

I caught the differences in the trousers as well, and I wonder if these soldiers are a penal detail? In the Serial Set testimony, one of Crosmans suggestions for the use of irregular clothing in storage at Philadelphia was to issue it to those who had committed offenses in the Army.

Serial Set, Volume 1143, pg. 880

Philadelphia, March 6, 1862

G. H. Crosman sworn:


Q. Can you furnish the committee with a statement of the amount of this irregular clothing on hand now, and which are not adapted for army use.
A. I can in a few days.

The following statement was subsequently furnished by the witness:

Army Clothing and Equipage Office
Philadelphia, April 4, 1862

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Theodore F. Andrews, clerk of committee, asking the amount and character of irregular clothing on hand at this department, and have the honor to report:

There is on hand at the Schuylkill arsenal the following irregular clothing, viz:

40,611 uniform coats
69,142 great coats
185,216 pair trousers
708 jackets

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. H. Crosman,
Deputy Quartermaster General

Hon. E. B. Washburne,
Chairman Com. of Gov't Contracts, Washington, D. C.

Q. From your long experience and your knowledge in reference to articles of this kind, what in your judgment would be the best manner for the government to dispose of them?
A. I think the best mode would be, in the first place, to issue them to prisoners of war, if they are to be clothed by the government, and also to the negroes. That would be the first disposition to be made of them; and then they might be issued to prisoners of the army-our own men in confinement for offenses. After that I would sell them in small parcels at various points and at suitable seasons, so as not to put too many upon the market at one time or at one place.

Not to suggest that these fellows are wearing clothing from those stocks, the QMD continued to purchase at least some irregular clothing after the date of the above testimony. For example, in Cincinnati, the first mention and advertisement for knit clothing by the QMD that I can find in any of the four local papers is in August of that year. It was during this period that the QMD was purchasing for the 600,000 men called up by Lincoln, quite a stock of clothing and material in storage had been used up already according to the QM General in the OR's. It appears they were looking for a way to keep the market from greatly advancing while further procuring goods. In what volume however, I don't know. Appears in my opinion anyway, that much of it was purchased on the open market, which makes a certain amount of sense if an attempt was made to somewhat control the market. As there doesn't seem to be a contractual record on those purchases, makes it tough to peg.

Anyway, it is interesting that at least the fellow in this last image (with traps) doesn't appear as ragged as those in our work detail. Maybe just can't see enough detail to form an opinion.

BTW, does the soldier with the "huge guffaw" have his blouse collar turned under?

Jason, your photo studies are of great interest. My opinion is that you may very well turn up something of real importance doing this sort of thing. Many of the photos on that site have been published over and over. That you are able to bring out so much that is new by closely examining them in this format is plainly something else.

Having said that, I have a request of you. :) As have others on the board, been looking through some of the images at the LOC site rather closely. Don't have the ability to pull out the detail you are able to do. Several stuck out that I would like to more closely have a look at, none more so than a stereo in the NYHS collection titled "Capt. Bollerman's kitchen, tasting the soup."

When our study here has run it's course, would you consider, if you have the time to do so, posting that one? Have something I would like to look at up close, which I think too, would interest folks, and maybe worthy of discussion. The blouses worn by these fellows are very different.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?cwnyhs:38:./temp/~ammem_UlHt::

Regards,

John

Jno. Sarver
Cin. O.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

If this is Ft McAllister, the troops my very well be from Hazens division. I am going to dig into the ORs this evening and see if there are any records of what units would have been detailed to this task. 24 guns and 40 tons of ammunition were removed from Ft McAllister.

The previous post was an excellent piece of research, and should set a benchmark for the type of input posted on this site. Altough my gut tells me that these men are not a penal unit, as they are Shermans men at the end of his march from Atlanta to Savanah. But who knows, it is food for thought.

There are more images of Shermans men at Ft McAllister out there. It would be interesting to look at some of these other images an comapare and contrast.