Housed in half a leatherette case with matt, frame and glass in place, this sixth-plate tintype of a seated young Union soldier has remarkable clarity. The table cloth on the table beside him is delicately tinted blue, as is the collar piping of his regulation private’s frock coat, indicating he is in the infantry. For his portrait, our young hero rests one hand on the table beside him, clutching a seldom photographed piece of mess-gear: a privately purchased combination fork, knife and spoon. Many young soldiers posed with knives or pistols, their own or borrowed props, to look warlike. In this case, our subject shows off the knife blade, but has also opened up the fork and spoon to show he is not holding a weapon, but an eating utensil. It may be a joke, a message to the folks back home that he is taking care of himself, that he appreciates their thoughtful gift, or all three.

For collectors interest in material culture, it is an interesting document. Enterprising inventors marketed all sorts of gadgets to make a new soldier’s army life easier. Several varieties of combination messgear were advertised as convenient for the soldier or practical parting gifts from family or friends. Most promised compact storage in a haversack, fewer sharp points to poke through its fabric, and the ease of not having to rummage around during a brief halt for the flimsy utensils provided by the army recruiting services.

The photo is also a wonderful portrait of innocence gone to war. The soldier is extremely young and has shown up at the photograper’s studio apparently in a new uniform. He wears his issue forage cap pushed back somewhat, most likely to avoid any shadow from the visor, but making it appear a bit small for his head. His tall regulation collar makes his coat appear a bit too big. Both are attributes of army clothing issued to new recruits in standard sizes with little regard for the recipient. That he wears no equipment, carries no weapons, and is armed only with a peaceful piece of mess-gear simply adds to the contrast of the young, new soldier we see and the potentially violent and tragic future ahead of him. This is a simple, but in many ways remarkable photograph.  [sr]

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