This is a studio shot of an armed U.S. militia man wearing a tall version of the 1851 pattern shako with brush style pompom at top in a brass “tulip” and stamped brass eagle plate, the style adapted for the Hardee hat side plate. He has a polished leather visor and chinstrap that he has positioned between chin and lower lip and stands with musket at his side with fixed bayonet. His cartridge box and cap box are visible on his white accoutrement belts, which are certainly buff leather, as is his white musket sling. The cartridge box belt is fitted with a large rectangular plate with clipped corners. The waist belt it the narrow 1839 style with small U.S. oval. His coat is either a short jacket or, more likely a tail coat with tails hidden behind him, and is trimmed with three-button plackets at the cuffs and buttons with false embroidered button holes on collar. He wears metal shoulder scales, but with fringe, unlike the regular army.

The front of his shako is fitted with the letters “CA” in a wreath. (Neither the letters or other details are reversed in the image, which is okay in an ambrotype.) It is possible the “A” stands for “artillery,” since many militia units designated as artillery in fact drilled and were equipped as infantry, but which might make a unit identification possible. A studio chair appears at right, and a patterned rug on the floor. The painted backdrop presents a pleasing blur, either from movement of the canvas, focal length of the camera, or as a rendering of a stormy seascape. In any case, it is both unusual and pleasing. The image is very sharp and we see no emulsion issues. It is housed in half a leatherette case, with mat, frame and glass in place.  [sr] [ph:m]

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