Images & Prints
Nice 9th-Plate Tintype Image, Fully-Cased, Of Young Confederate Soldier
Wearing "Regulation-Style" Uniform of 12-button Front, Branch-Colored Trip, Pant-Seam Piping
High & Stiff Kepi with Company "C" letter on Kepi Front
Believed to be a CS Artilleryman
I'm no "image" guy, but I certainly appreciate them more and more, and often become enthralled with certain ones. This was "caught my eye". Not only is it a great Confederate image of a young, clean-cut soldier going off to war in his "stiff" and beautiful "regulation-style" uniform, but his high-quality and more unique-styled kepi with the Company "C" on it really intrigued me. I deduce several things regarding this image: first, it is a very early war photo, probably no later than 1862, given his age, clean-cut appearance, and most of all his uniform. This is clearly one of the early-war "regulation" styles jackets of at least 12-button front, cuff branch of service coloration, shoulder piped straps, trousers of matching material with piping, and the kepi being a very high-quality "high" stiff front with excellent cut and tailoring all around. Clearly, only early in the war would privates have the money, or the government and local tailors the ability to produce such high-quality fitted uniforms. That quickly went out the door as the war waged from months to years, and time, money, supply, and ability to make such fine attire was replaced with quick, cheap, and more "one size fits all" manufacture. Only through 1862 did the "commutation" system with the CS government operate to reimburse soldiers the cost they would pay to have their uniforms privately made, rather than count on the CS Government to do so. Secondly, I and others believe this is an artilleryman. For one reason, that high-front kepi is almost always seen with artillerymen--rarely with infantry. Secondly, the Company "C" designation and pride in company designation was rampant with Batteries, as each Company or Battery of an entire artillery regiment was very personal for their men. Sure, in 1861, a lot of infantry units wore their company designation, but it was quickly changed to regimental number affiliation. Battery/Company importance in artillery remained until the end of the war. I also feel the coloration of the trim may indeed be red from the tone and hue in the image. It has great clarity, as you can see in the photo's below, though that pesky "splotchiness" is present, but does not detract from the overall appearance and display.
Whoever he was, what branch or company he fought it, when the photo was taken, or whether he even survived the war will forever be unknown. But we do know he was a young, fresh-face "son of the South" who answered the call to her defense. This ghostly image of him is all that remains. The rest is known "only unto God"....
Sale Pending
Click On Thumbnails Below For More Pictures
Outstanding Pair of 4th Plate-Sized Images on Card Stock of Confederate Soldier
One Image is War-Time Image in Full-Standing Pose of the CS Soldier in Regulation Uniform
Second Image is the Same Soldier in Same Uniform Late In Life w/Granddaughters
From the National Award-Winning "Southrons" Display Collection of Dennis Headlee
This is a phenomenal opportunity: these are two images of a Confederate soldier--one a wartime image of him in his regulation uniform, the other an image of him in the same uniform very old with obviously what can only be his granddaughters. They are both 4th Plate-sized images on cardstock (measuring 2.6" wide by 3.8" tall), and are in excellent condition, with great clarity. His uniform is a classic 7-button front shell jacket, "regulation" style with the colored cuffs and collars (appears to be either infantry blue or artillery red), and pants with the regulation stripe down the seam. It is a full-standing pose of the soldier, showing his entire uniform down to his brogans (military shoes). The backdrop is a wonderful outdoors scene. The late-in-life image of the soldier is phenomenal, seeing the wear of the years on this "old soldier", as he is sitting with his lovely granddaughters flanking him on either side. What's the real outstanding bonus is that this came from none-other than Dennis Headlee, the co-owner of the infamous "Southrons" Confederate display exhibit that has been set-up at almost every major Civil War Show in the past 10 years. It has won "Best-of-Show" so many times, they literally have lost track! It is the 28-foot long display of exclusively Confederate artifacts, images, relics, etc, displayed on a faux rock and scenery background (usually covered in fish-netting to keep hands off.)
Here's an opportunity to posses an outstanding pair of original Images of a Confederate soldier, coming from a nationally-renown owner and exhibitor...
$550
Click On Thumbnails Below For Close-Ups
