Description
Wonderful sixth plate melainotype portrait of this youthful cadet. This young cadet wears a very determined look upon his face with arms folded. Dressed in a gray, triple breasted jacket trimmed in black herringbone braid and ball buttons. The cuffs are similarly trimmed. He also sports this fabulous wheel cap with the rain cover in place. This is quite possibly a cadet from the LaGrange Military Academy of Leighton, Alabama. While a number of academy’s employed a similar style cadet uniform, LaGrange appears to be the only one which was also trimmed on the collar and cuffs with the single black band of trim. The academy would open in 1858 and soon flourished, becoming known as the “West Point of the South”. During its existence, 259 cadets from 9 states attended the Academy. The Academy was forced to suspend classes on March 1, 1862, due to cadets leaving to join the Confederate Army. Major J.W. Robertson was authorized to organize the 35th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Robertson was elected Colonel of the regiment and the remaining cadets of the Academy formed part of one company. On April 28, 1863, the 10th Missouri Calvary of the Union Army burned the Military Academy. This image certainly dates to the time of the academy’s operation, and while there are several know and identified views of cadet’s from the academy, this young individual remains elusive. Regardless a great portrait of this young man who almost certainly served during the war to some degree. Housed in a full leatherette case.
