Description
Superb early war sixth plate ambrotype of two Confederate brothers simply identified as Thomas and James Jones. The siblings sit side by side with the older of the two dressed in this very unique uniform. Sporting a grey jacket, a vertical black stripe runs up either side of the breast of the coat with the collar trimmed in black as well. The jacket is accented with a pair of cloth shoulder tabs and matching slash pockets located on either side of the midsection of the jacket. A band of black trim also adorns the cuffs of the jacket as well as each pocket. Armed with a large Bowie knife which is brandished against the breast, he wears a leather waist belt with double roller buckles. The younger of the two is dressed in a much simpler uniform. That jacket appears to be made of some very shoddy material. It lacks any sort of trim but does bear a pair of slash pockets located at the mid section similar to the uniform of the older brother. The younger of the two doesn’t appear to be more than 12 or 13 years of age. He is certainly very young at the very least. A pencil inscription inside the case reads, “Thomas J. Jones & brother James”. The uniform is very similar to those worn by troops from both Mississippi and Tennessee. I did locate a Thomas Jones who mustered at 13 years of age in the 1st Mississippi Cavalry accompanied by a James Jones in the same regiment. Whether or not that is the two men shown here, I could not say. It certainly deserves further research. Regardless a great looking reb image!
