Description
This double armed Confederate cavalryman is identified in the case as W. H. Porter. In period writing is the following:
“W. H. Porter for ??? A. Porter, February 7th 1864. When this you see think of me.”
The soldier is double armed with a cavalry sabre and Whitney navy revolver. He is wearing a US issue sword belt. The eagle and wreath on the belt plate are clearly visible, as the plate is not gilded. He is wearing a shell jacket which is adorned with Virginia buttons, as the Virginia state seal on the top button can be easily seen. There are large buttons on either side of the collar as well as down the front of the jacket. Records show two possible Virginians, William Henry Porter and William Horace Porter. Both men served as privates in Virginia cavalry regiments. William Henry would only have been 17 at the time the image was taken, and the soldier looks older than 17. My suspicion is that the image is William Horace, who served in the 9th Virginia cavalry. More research is warranted to confirm this. This sixth plate ambrotype is a very clear image of a double armed Virginia cavalryman with period identification in the case. The case is leatherette with repaired spine and missing latch. A fine confederate image, indeed.
