A Painted Camp and Forts Backdrop from Virginia

By Dave Batalo 

These portraits of Confederate soldiers posed in front of a painted backdrop are normally difficult to locate in a specific state. Such military imagery painted in a primitive manner can be found in photographs throughout the South, and in Northern states.

Fortunately, the image of the full-standing soldier is identified. He is Sgt. Roy Mason Greenlaw (about 1839-1899), who served in Company C of the 15th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry. A resident of King George County, located along the Potomac River, Greenlaw enlisted in April 1862 in Fredericksburg. The 15th, also known as the Northern Neck Rangers and Maj. John Critcher’s Battalion Virginia Cavalry, fought with the Army of Northern Virginia through the end of the war. Greenlaw fell into enemy hands at Petersburg on April 1, 1865, and spent two months at Point Lookout in Maryland before signing the Oath of Allegiance.

Upon close inspection of the image, Greenlaw’s chevrons are visible on the sleeves of his frock coat, and a reversed 15 and VA can be seen above and below the crossed sabers on his slouch hat. The early war double-breasted style of his enlisted man’s uniform suggests he posed for this likeness soon after his enlistment. This places the photographer in the vicinity of Fredericksburg or King George County.

The other soldier, unidentified, displays a Colt army revolver. He may have served in the same unit as Greenlaw.

The backdrop

The painting features a martial scene in an idyllic setting. In the foreground, armed soldiers stand in front of tents. The lone cannon and earthen embankments suggest this is a fortified camp. In the middle and background, forts bristle with cannon. Nestled between the forts lies a lake with a steamboat. There are no flags visible, possibly due to the changing nature of Confederate banners. Whether the backdrop was used in a formal gallery or a camp studio in the field is unknown. The small number of extant views of this backdrop indicates the photographer used it for only a short time.

Locating more images with this backdrop will help pinpoint the location and maker.

Special thanks to collector Rusty Hicks for finding the image of Sgt. Greenlaw and originally co-owning it with me.

Dave Batalo is a collector of identified Virginia soldier cased images and the proprietor of Richmond Civil War Antiques. He is President of the Central Virginia Civil War Collectors Association. Dave is retired from Dominion Energy, where he spent his career in nuclear power.

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