Unidentified North Carolina Soldier
Dublin Core
Title
Unidentified North Carolina Soldier
Subject
Davidson County NC
Description
Unidentified North Carolina soldier, possibly from Davidson County.
The soldier is carrying a long rifle with an octagon barrel. The shape of the tang suggests that the gun was made in the Salem, Forsyth County, area. In the early part of the war North Carolina sheriffs were instructed to gather suitable firearms and deliver them to Raleigh, where, after being altered for military use, they were issued to the new regiments. A document in the records of the North Carolina Adjutant General entitled “Day Book of Issues and Receipts” has an entry that “Salem rifles” were received.
Several features in this photograph, including the rifle, the battle shirt, and the homemade waist belt suggest that the image dates from the very early part of the war. The image came from the Thomasville area of Davidson County. The “Thomasville Rifles,” organized at Thomasville and Lexington on April 23, 1861, was the first company from Davidson County and it may be speculated that the soldier is a member of that command. (The “Thomasville Rifles” were subsequently designated Company B, 14th Regiment N.C. Troops.
The soldier is carrying a long rifle with an octagon barrel. The shape of the tang suggests that the gun was made in the Salem, Forsyth County, area. In the early part of the war North Carolina sheriffs were instructed to gather suitable firearms and deliver them to Raleigh, where, after being altered for military use, they were issued to the new regiments. A document in the records of the North Carolina Adjutant General entitled “Day Book of Issues and Receipts” has an entry that “Salem rifles” were received.
Several features in this photograph, including the rifle, the battle shirt, and the homemade waist belt suggest that the image dates from the very early part of the war. The image came from the Thomasville area of Davidson County. The “Thomasville Rifles,” organized at Thomasville and Lexington on April 23, 1861, was the first company from Davidson County and it may be speculated that the soldier is a member of that command. (The “Thomasville Rifles” were subsequently designated Company B, 14th Regiment N.C. Troops.
Creator
Unknown Photographer
Source
E-mail, Michael Black to author, February 10, 2015.
Contributor
Michael Black Collection
Format
1/6th plate Ambrotype
Files
Citation
Unknown Photographer, “Unidentified North Carolina Soldier,” Tar Heel Faces, accessed May 17, 2024, https://tarheelfaces.omeka.net/items/show/131.
Comments
Bob Williams
Fred: I mentioned this to Greg a while back, but I believe this guy is wearing the distinctive overshirt pattern uniform of the Craig Rifles [Co. B, 28th VA infantry]. He may still be from NC but this uniform is shown in another 28th VA image. (LOC collection, easy to Google). Just FY!