This well-appointed soldier appears ready for duty with one hand on the grip of his sword and the other mid-blade, suggestive of the port arms drill position for inspection. Though his identity is currently unknown, the format (daguerreotype) and style of the brass mat date to the 1840s or early 1850s—a heyday for American military companies.
A study of his distinctive uniform offers additional clues. The inverted single chevron may indicate his rank of corporal—though the Regular Army abolished this insignia in 1830, it continued to be used by local militia companies for some time. The double chevrons on his cuff, with small brass buttons at the intersection of the diagonal stripes, and six-pointed stars on his elbows, chest, and collar, are decorative flair added to set apart this company from others. Epaulettes, a cross belt with plate, and wide-striped trousers complete the look. The lanyard hanging around his neck might be connected to a pocket watch.
His sword appears to be a straight-bladed model of an officer pattern used by noncommissioned officers of this period. His hand and sword knot obscures the pommel and grip, making it difficult to determine if this is a Model 1840 design or of non-regulation origin.
— Mike Cunningham and Ron Field contributed to this description.
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