Three Conderates

[Mudd Puddle]

This is a good picture of three confederate soldiers. Two of them are wearing the Louisinna style frock coats seen in the EOG. The one on the left is wearing a musicans coat. The Corproal seated in the middle has something on his collar that look like stars from what i can make out. Heres the link http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2219706222&category=36039
John

[Clark Badgett]

I don't think that is a wartime image. Looks too 1880ish to me. Those uniforms are nowhere near looking like the Louisiana frock, in fact they aren't even frocks, they are more of a tunic.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Clark is right, this image is late 19th century. Not to mention If it were a real CW period image it would be going for alot more than 30$.

[markj]

Hi,

Something else to keep in mind is that state militia units were often very loath to give up ostensibly outdated uniforms. A good example of these were "swallowtail coats," which were out of fashion in the civilian world by the 1840's yet were continued to be worn by state militia units into at least the 1890's.

For this reason, you have to be really careful when examining images. Ebay is filled with "Civil War soldier photos" often dating to the 1880's or later. Another tip-off is the use of "crossed rifle" devices. These weren't adopted by the U.S. Army until the late 1870's yet they're plainly visible on the caps of troops in "The Red Badge of Courage" (along with Span-Am War vintage canteens).

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Clark Badgett]

Mark, don't forget the Span-Am haversacks as well

[va-yank]

You should particularly note the handlebar moustache on the one gent standing, and that the others sport very healthy lip hair as well.

Long hair, beards and sideburns gradually went out of favor with the common man during the late 1880s until by the mid 1890s most men (the VAST majority) sported only a big 'stache.

Wild Bill Hickock and JLC aside, the big mustache was not absent from the CW, but not the fixture it is in this photo. Think these are Span Am volunteers?