Description
Sixth plate tintype of a Federal soldier photographed in the field. The subject stands dressed in a 9 button, French pattern Chasseur jacket while holding his musket at his side wearing his white parade gloves. These uniforms were issued to members of the 62nd and 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry as well as the 18th Massachusetts Infantry in December of 1861. The three regiments of Gen. Fitz-John Porter’s division of the Army of the Potomac earned the uniforms by winning a drill competition to see who would be issued the 10,000 imported French uniforms. He is however not wearing the complete uniform. The most obvious omission are the green pantaloons which are not being worn. The uniform was not very popular among the men. It was very comfortable nor practical and most didn’t fit properly as they were sized for the much smaller French troops. The uniforms were eventually packed back up and shipped off to a warehouse. He does sport the jacket, rigid kepi and white gloves which were all part of the uniform but I suspect he traded the pantaloons for the more practical standard trousers. He is photographed outdoors standing among the grass and twigs with a large white canvas tent used as the back drop. Housed in a full leatherette case with a split spine.
