High-Resolution Selections from Confederate Prisoner Groups

[EasySam]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Last picture in opening post.....Picking nose or using cell phone?

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Hi,

I can not tell what he is doing with his hand Major Looney. It is strange, why would this soldier be holding his hand to his face for this photo? On a side note in the last 2 sets of photos of the Confederate prisoners, has anyone noticed the almost complete lack of Confederate kepis.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Hi,

I can not tell what he is doing with his hand Major Looney. It is strange, why would this soldier be holding his hand to his face for this photo? On a side note in the last 2 sets of photos of the Confederate prisoners, has anyone noticed the almost complete lack of Confederate kepis.

He's picking his schnoz......

[OleMissRebel]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Hi,
On a side note in the last 2 sets of photos of the Confederate prisoners, has anyone noticed the almost complete lack of Confederate kepis.

I don't blame them. I wouldn't wear one either.

[lukegilly13]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

9th picture from top of original post. At first glance I thought this to be a shelter half. However, after looking closer there is a major transition in color from the outside to inside....looking again, I thought gum blanket/shelter half...but if so, i've never seen a loop grommit sewn into one that way. Any thoughts on what that is for sure?

[1stMaine]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Well,

The 5th VA cavalry image kist furthers my own impression of there jackets being of EA cloth. Look at the contrast between the jacket and pants.

Regardless, did anybofy pick up on the major difference between the '63 Aldie image and the others? What struck me most was the near total absence of epaullets on the jackets in the 64 & 65 image. That means that by '64 either a whole lotta men were cutting off the shoulder straps, or that the government stopped adding them in time to issue prior to the spring '64 campaign season.

Could what we today call the "type-III" RD Jacket have been introduced much sooner than we think?

Questions and more questions.

[Secesh]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Thanks for posting the photos! Very interesting!!!

[Horace]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

I agree with Tom. This, and the other zooms you've done of original photographs, are amazing. It throws these images into a whole new light. A book of these close-ups would be worthwhile and useful.
We almost always see stiff studio portraits of one or two people. These more rare semi-unposed field shots are much more revealing. Then to zoom in close enough to see their expressions and how they're wearing their gear makes it look somehow like these pictures were just taken. These are really good and I hope you keep doing it.
I always liked the well known shot below. I'd vote for that one.

[DougCooper]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Looks like a goodly number of uncovered Federal canteens on the prisoners. And they're wearing them over the left shoulder instead of the right. Haversacks too. At first I thought the image might be reversed but you can see a cap pouch on one of the guards and it is on the right side of his buckle where it should be.

The likely explanation for this is that since the rebs no longer have accouterments, it matters not what side the canteens and blanket rolls are on, so they did as they wished.

[1stMaine]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Doug,

FWIW, when I am serving with the Ambulance Corps, and only have my personal items, I also shift the canteen over to the right in order to balance out the weight I am carrying.

For men used to carrying a rifle and cartridge box, it might well be the case that they also shifted weight to that side when the arms and accoutrements were dropped, because they were used to having weight there.

But yeah, they can do as they like now. At least they can be pretty certain of survivng the war.

Respects,

[OleMissRebel]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

I always liked the well known shot below. I'd vote for that one.

I have tried and tried and tried some more to try and find a high resolution shot of it, but can't. I'm a big fan of that photograph as well.

[lukegilly13]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

I always liked the well known shot below. I'd vote for that one.

Do you know when this shot was taken? I'm interested in the number of infantry boots v/s brogans. Especially interested in the guys wearing them with their trousers tucked. I know this was a somewhat popular style, but i (for some reason) thought it to be uncommon in theater. My gut feeling is that it would be more common early than late war simply because of availability, and very dependent on location etc of unit. Does anyone know for sure?
PS: Love the images! A picture's worth a 1000 words....however, these are worth a 1000 from each solider in the picture!

[OleMissRebel]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Do you know when this shot was taken? I'm interested in the number of infantry boots v/s brogans. Especially interested in the guys wearing them with their trousers tucked. I know this was a somewhat popular style, but i (for some reason) thought it to be uncommon in theater. My gut feeling is that it would be more common early than late war simply because of availability, and very dependent on location etc of unit. Does anyone know for sure?
PS: Love the images! A picture's worth a 1000 words....however, these are worth a 1000 from each solider in the picture!

That photograph is generally listed as being taken around Petersburg in 1864.

[Enfilade]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

I really appreciate the posting of these "up-close" high resolution pics. I did notice something else while looking them over. Maybe you guys can find some. But I didn't see not one NCO stripe on any of the jackets in any of these pics. Did anyone else notice any? And are the punch bowl pics showing the prisoners seperated into companies or regiments? Is that why they are in groups? If so, the addage "no two men dressed alike" would actually have legs. Although the Aldie pics show some guys who do look just alike. Just wondered if anyone else noticed...

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles

http://www.northstaterifles.com

http://www.combinationsinc.com

combinations@northstate.net

[yeoman]

Re: High-res selections from Confederate prisoner groups

Sir, once again these are great images, I can almost smell 'em and hear their mutter of discontent from here (no offense suggested). Thanks for the work.