Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

[Eric Tipton]

Greetings!

For tonight's Close-Up Image, we go to another wonderful photo from the Library of Congress. This is listed on the LOC simply as a "Group of Officers and Men". What are your impressions of this series of images? Do you have a guess about year, theater, regiment? What do you think?






Here is the link to the Library of Congress Listing:

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2013648705/

[James Taub]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

I don't have a definitive answer, but the man seated second from left in the second picture down looks like he has some sort of Zouave jacket. Might be a clue

[RudyN]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

I also saw the zouave type jacket, but really don't have an idea which unit this is. However, one of the soldiers does have a nice pipe and I think I may have its twin.

[Ken Cornett]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

Interesting how the Orderly Sergeants are bunched together.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

Bumping this one to see if anyone has any insight on who it might be.

[roundshot]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

The quasi-zouave jackets that are shown are typical of those issued to many reenlisting veteran regiments in the Department of the Gulf. They came in a variety of patterns with different styles of trefoil trim configurations, or none at all. Some had false vests of either sky are dark blue; some didn't. Probably the most famous unit to receive these was the 11th Indiana Volunteers, but they also went to other Indiana units as well, and some from Iowa too. Anyway, below are several illustrations depicting this interesting jacket. Based on the "odds" I'd venture these are Indiana soldiers. Anyone's guess, however.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

Lots of really neat details here. Fairly wide variety of caps, kepis, hats. Note the fitted look of the frocks on the officers. Commercial sacks, (one with what looks like velvet facings!) and that each Orderly Sergeant's diamond is different. Different types of shoulder straps and sword belts. Some young looking Staff Officers.

Great cross section of a unit and shows the wide variety of uniformity available and adopted. Goes to show Federal uniformity need not be drab or "cookie cutter" and some variety is acceptable, and maybe even necessary. Granted, an issue appearance is always safe vice the exception, but this photo and others in this folder show a broad amount of exceptions, I think.

[CompanyWag]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

Eyeglasses on the officer laying on his belly. Definitely not just reading glasses.

[Stephen Lunsford]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

Those are some awesome pictures! Could they be Corcoran's Legion?

[minieball]

Re: Close-Up Image - Unidentified Officers and Men

Lack of visible corp badges suggests earlier than 1863. But these men do have a "veteran" look. The tents in the background look strangely similar to ones pictured in the series done near Culpeper/Cedar Mountain in August 1862. Possibly members of Banks' Corp.