| 138SquadronRAF | 29 Jun 2018 12:54 p.m. PST |
I came upon this site covering Wilder's Lightning Brigade.
There is a picture of Officers and NCO's, it looks post war to me, but I'd be interested in identify the uniform further. TIA |
| Old Contemptibles | 29 Jun 2018 2:01 p.m. PST |
They look like firemen to me. |
| Old Contemptibles | 29 Jun 2018 2:03 p.m. PST |
Do you have a link for this photo? |
| Old Contemptibles | 29 Jun 2018 2:06 p.m. PST |
Those look like axes to me. Not tomahawks. |
| Old Contemptibles | 29 Jun 2018 2:13 p.m. PST |
link I could be wrong but they still looks like firemen. |
rmcaras  | 29 Jun 2018 2:27 p.m. PST |
Does not look like infantry [modified to ride horses – shell jacket vice sack or frock]ACW period uniforms. But as noted these are officers. This does not look similar to images Wilder's Lightning Brigade in the books I have on this unit. Again, though, those were troopers, IIRC and not officers. Be interesting to source the image that woman used in her article. Regarding the axes, while true farmers/infantry soldiers were not adept at sabers [I do not recall any of the books suggesting they would be so equipped, much less trained]. There were plenty of regular Union cavalry [Minty's brigade seemed to serve along side the mounted infantry brigade frequently. I would certainly want something that LONG if I had to tangle with a mounted foe with a sword, but I think I'd go for my revolver first! Those look ponderous to swing! |
| 79thPA | 29 Jun 2018 2:57 p.m. PST |
They don't look like sack coats to me-- they look like 1895 undress blouses. The hatchets of Wilder are routinely described as being 2 feet long. The apparent commander is wearing shoulder boards. If they are NCOs, why don't any of them have chevrons on their sleeves? Also,a number of them have some sort of collar brass, and they all appear to have some type of hat insignia. Nothing about this says "civil war" to me. |
| Dn Jackson | 29 Jun 2018 3:23 p.m. PST |
Post war. No one wore peaked caps during the war. Not of that type. I'm not sure that type had even been invented yet. |
| DisasterWargamer | 29 Jun 2018 3:36 p.m. PST |
Purported to be a picture of a mounted member of the lightning brigade
I also have read of the hatchets having a 2 foot shaft – but would have to look back to find source material on it |
 StoneMtnMinis | 29 Jun 2018 3:36 p.m. PST |
Clean-shaven, probably turn of the century. |
| MSU John | 29 Jun 2018 5:46 p.m. PST |
Those aren't ACW uniforms. |
| Ed Mohrmann | 29 Jun 2018 7:24 p.m. PST |
There was an idea of Wilder's about arming his MI with axes as a melee weapon. It is hard to imagine
a more unwieldy weapon for mounted melee combat. |
ScottWashburn  | 30 Jun 2018 2:29 a.m. PST |
Yes, absolutely not a CW photo. |
| donlowry | 30 Jun 2018 9:24 a.m. PST |
Agree. Not ACW uniforms -- more like 1890s. |
| Ed Mohrmann | 01 Jul 2018 2:23 a.m. PST |
Beginning to wonder if this is a staged photo of a
very early re-enactment unit. There are hundreds of
photo's on the internet of 'ACW soldiers' which are
really reenactors. The images are too good for ACW-era photography, both
the image supplied by the OP and the hundreds found
on the internet. |
| Old Contemptibles | 01 Jul 2018 10:51 p.m. PST |
Yes the uniforms are much later. Those type of hats were never worn in the ACW. I still think they are 1890s firemen. |
| COL Scott ret | 02 Jul 2018 7:43 a.m. PST |
Clearly neither ACW nor Wilders Brigade, perhaps one of those gentleman had served in Wilders Brigade- and the family miss identified. I was told for years that the picture of great great Grampa Sauer was in his Civil War uniform – it turned out to be his GAR uniform |
| donlowry | 02 Jul 2018 9:43 a.m. PST |
|
