9th Plate Soldier Image - what type of uniform?

[Ardennes]

I'm new here, so not sure if this is the right place to post original images ... anyone care to comment on what specific type of uniform this may have been, or unit that may have worn it? From a 9th plate ambrotype. Unfortunately the gold tinting covers up any button details.

Best,
Greg

[semperpietas]

Originally Posted by Ardennes

I'm new here, so not sure if this is the right place to post original images ... anyone care to comment on what specific type of uniform this may have been, or unit that may have worn it? From a 9th plate ambrotype. Unfortunately the gold tinting covers up any button details.

Best,
Greg

Black piping suggests that the soldier might be wearing a commutation jacket, styles of uniform jackets that private soldiers purchased that were made to regulation cut* and were reimbursed by the government for their purchase. These were very common early war, but by 1862 the majority of Confederate soldiers received their uniforms from a depot system (Richmond for the Army of Northern Virginia, Columbus and Atlanta for the Army of Tennessee, Shreveport and Houston for Trans-Mississippi Department troops, etc.)

That said, the cut is reminiscent of late war style jacket (resembles a type III), and the piping is just there because the jacket was made in material on hand. As for what type of soldier, I have no idea. Even if the jacket were marked in the regulation branch of color (blue for infantry, red for artillery, yellow for cavalry, green for medical, buff for staff and generals, etc.), there are many cases of soldiers being issued what on hand at the depot (there are cases of artillerymen in the Army of Tennessee wearing blue trimmed Columbus Depot Jackets, while some Arkansas infantry regiments of Buford's Brigade in Pemberton's Army received red trimmed jackets, etc.) and the result being a mix match of colors and wrong trim being worn by the wrong troops styles. After 1862, the Richmond depot generally dropped colored trim, so this was less problematic in Lee's Army.

As for it being a commutation jacket: This is a good example of a private in Jackson's Valley Army wearing one.


*Again, cut did not always meet official Confederate regulation.

[Ardennes]

Thanks; I'm familiar with the commutation system and the various patterns of depot jackets as proposed by Les Jensen ... I suppose this was a leading question because I left out the fact that the ambro's mat has TYLER & Co stamped along the bottom (I can't really get a good scan of it). The only Tyler & Co. photography studio that I could find record of was in Boston. There's no label inside the case, and the mat is sealed to the ambrotype (so I don't think it's been replaced). It has been suggested to me that this is in fact a c. 1860 Massachusetts militia frock. I wondered if anyone has familiarity with Massachusetts militia uniforms, and see any resemblance to this one.

Best,
Greg