A Confederate artillery first lieutenant posed for this portrait in the Richmond gallery of Charles Ricard Rees. The color tinting and signature at the base of the column are hallmarks of his artistry.
The uncommon uniform and painted backdrop make it difficult to pin down the origin and loyalty of this soldier. The style of this light-colored jacket, with buttoned cuffs, long epaulettes, and tall collar is reminiscent of the Mexican War period, notes MI Contributing Editor Dr. Mike Cunningham, who suggests the style may have been copied by a militia unit in the 1857 to 1861 timeframe. The waterproofed cap is notable.
A quintessential Union volunteer turned his waist belt plate upside down to compensate for the lateral reversal effect in hard-plate images. He got the order of the letters correct.
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