Description
The Union private in this sixth plate tintype looks like he has been in the army for quite a while. His expression is one of both boredom and disgust. He appears to be tired of army life and was probably not popular with his officers! The pose is nice, with his body at an angle and his head turned toward the camera. He is wearing a frock coat with the buttons gilded. The buckle on his belt is heavily gilded, and there is a cap box on the belt. A bayonet is just visible under his arm. The image is in good condition, with a few ripples that are not very noticeable. The image is housed in an OK leatherette case with repaired spine. A poem titled “Ode – On Hearing the Drum” by John Scott, a Quaker, was found in the case behind the image. The poem was cut out of a newspaper. The reverse of the poem talks about a sculpture in Philadelphia, so the soldier may have been from Pennsylvania. The words in the poem fit well with the soldier’s demeanor. This is definitely a unique image.
