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Warpy

(114,314 posts)

17. Looks like he was in the Indian Wars.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Nov 22, 2025, 02:29 PM

Nov 22

Civil War hats were different and a lot less practical, especially out west.

Also, this looks like a Daguerrotype photo, one that was likely displayed and faded over the years. Civil War photos were mostly tintypes toat are crisp and clean 160 years later. The photographic process also dates the picture and the war he likely fought in. Daguerrotypes quickly took the place of tintypes since multiple copies could be printed on paper. With a tintype, one copy was it.

Still, photography changed so rapidly in the 19th century as one process supplanted another that the photos themselvers can nail down a date and give some historical context for the photo.

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My grandson found this in my family tree [View all] Omaha Steve Nov 22 OP

Hopefully, he was a Union member. sinkingfeeling Nov 22 #1

Pretty sure that's a Union hat. Emile Nov 22 #3

Yes. That is a union cavalry hat. hlthe2b Nov 22 #5

He was. That's the Union Hat Lochloosa Nov 22 #4

Unusual first name. That's pretty cool Steve. Emile Nov 22 #2

Not so much at the time. Biblical names soldierant Nov 22 #15

What a find! I consider old family photos to be real treasures. 3catwoman3 Nov 22 #6

Had Great-Great-Grandpa's. czarjak Nov 22 #7

Mine are ALL Confederates AverageOldGuy Nov 22 #8

Mine too. GoodRaisin Nov 24 #19

I love Ancestry.com appleannie1 Nov 22 #9

My mother's side LittleGirl Nov 22 #10

awesome 3auld6phart Nov 22 #11

At least he was a Yankee. ananda Nov 22 #12

You are not alone. GoodRaisin Nov 24 #20

From what I have read more soldiers died from health problems than the war. Gut infections, other stuff. twodogsbarking Nov 22 #13

Cool. LoisB Nov 22 #14

That's a great picture, Omaha Steve. Something to be very proud of. My great-great-grandfather fought at Gettysburg. Borogove Nov 22 #16

Looks like he was in the Indian Wars. Warpy Nov 22 #17

Wonderful Beringia Nov 23 #18

That is very cool. My cousin used Ancestry and was able to trace back GoodRaisin Nov 24 #21

WOW that is so cool We lost a lot of old pictures when my mom's house burned yellowdogintexas Nov 24 #22

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