Description

The soldier in this sixth plate tintype generates some interesting questions. He is wearing an Army of the Potomac second corps badge on his four-button sack coat and displays a bandaged left hand for the photographer.  In what battle or skirmish was this man wounded, and when?  Corps badges were adopted by Joseph Hooker after he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, so one could assume that corps badges were in use any time after that.  Likely battles for his wounding include Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Overland campaign and Petersburg, which encompasses much hard fighting by the Army of the Potomac.  The soldier is seated with his right arm resting on a table.  A column and drapery reside in the background.  There are some letters scratched over the soldier’s head, which may have been an attempt to write a name, but I cannot be sure.  The image is very clear, but it does have some bends which are noticeable.  I do not think that they detract from the content.  There is also a small hole punched in the image in the upper right corner under the mat.  It is hidden from view and not a detractor to the value.  The light spot above his right hand is a reflection.  The image is housed in a half leatherette case.  If you collect medical images or images of wounded soldiers, you should consider this image.  The content is unique and the corps badge a bonus.