See past issues of Military Images for studies of various painted backdrops, some of which have been identified to a particular photographer or to a locale on the basis of regimental identifications of the subjects. This full-standing 6^th plate tintype has a wonderful western flavor and the backdrop has been identified to the St. Louis studio of Enoch Long, a photographer doing business around the large training camp at Benton Barracks. The soldier is shown in a no-nonsense pose, simply garbed in regulation 4-button fatigue blouse and light-colored trousers, with broad-brimmed Hardee hat trimmed with a simple infantry hunting horn and the brim let down for service as a campaign hat. He stands at attention, with bayoneted musket at his side, and wears a simple infantry waist belt with oval plate that has been gilded, along with his buttons, by the photographer, who added a touch of red to his cheeks. He has a very slight smirk or self-satisfied narrow smile, indicating he was rather pleased with the whole setting supplied for his portrait by the photographer.

The painted backdrop fully fits with the simple garb and broad-brimmed hat associated with western troops on campaign- in particular, a gunboat cruises in a river behind him. A US flag floats at right over a cannon and stack of cannonballs that appear to be behind a rampart at right, but at left an open tent reveals a campaign map draped over a table, the map showing its caption “Map of Missouri,” with county lines clearly visible, and with a knapsack and canteen on the ground next to it, ready for use, and stack of muskets behind it with cartridge box hanging on it, with the box helpfully marked “U.S.” and the knapsack, “U.S.A.”

The image is matted, glassed, framed, and cased in a leatherette case embossed with floral and geometric motifs and the red facing pad in place showing curling floral elements around the edge and a vase of flowers at center. The hinge is weak and the outer edge of the cover is missing, but this is a strong image with good clarity, content, and a forceful presence.  [sr][ph:L]

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