This telling sixth-plate tintype shows the cost of war. Photographed seated and from the knees-up against a plain backdrop, a Confederate private missing his right arm stares directly into the camera. He has his left hand resting his lap, obscuring what is likely a sixth brass button on the bottom lapel of his single-breasted frock coat. His right sleeve hangs down full length to his side along the skirt of his frock coat and is plainly empty. (Keeping in mind tintypes are reversed.)

Frock coats are often seen on Confederate enlisted men early in the war and single-breasted coats with 6,7,8, or 9 button fronts are not uncommon. In this case the collar and pointed cuffs are fully colored and show up as very dark. Even allowing for the different ways colors show up in period tintypes, the likelihood is that the trim was black and his coat a regulation gray. Our man looks somewhat gaunt, but is well groomed and has likely spent considerable time in a hospital. Amputation was the common and necessary solution for limbs with bones shattered by projectiles. Even allowing for the best of care, something like fifteen percent of those wounded in any fashion died. Even if he showed his wound for the rest of his life, our man was lucky to make it home.

The tintype is in excellent condition, with top notch clarity and tones. There is some spotting and a little tiny bubbling to the emulsion, but just two tiny flaked spots on the cuff of the soldier’s sleeve in his lap and on his left lower side (as the viewer sees it) that are not particularly noticeable. The image is not cased, but comes with an oval mat, the outline of which is visible on the plate. This is a scarce image both as a Confederate soldier and an obviously wounded combat veteran.  [sr]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!