Young Enlisted Soldier with Belgian Copy of the Lefaucheux Model 1854

Description

This ninth-plate tintype presents a Union enlisted soldier seated for a straightforward wartime portrait. He wears the standard Federal fatigue blouse, identifiable by its simple single-breasted front and closely spaced buttons, a garment widely issued in camp and field during the middle years of the conflict. A light neckerchief is arranged beneath his collar, a personal touch often seen in informal portraits taken away from larger city studios. His posture is direct, with both hands resting on a Belgian-made copy of the Lefaucheux Model 1854 revolver, a sidearm that circulated through private purchase and limited issue to volunteer units. The revolver’s presence in the image underscores his desire to present himself as fully equipped for service.

The tintype surface shows scattered oxidation typical of plates that saw long periods of storage, yet the essential features of his uniform and equipment remain clear. The plain backdrop and absence of studio props suggest a photographer working near a camp or small town rather than a metropolitan setting. Taken together, the portrait records a moment in which a young soldier paused to document his identity as a participant in the war, relying on both issued clothing and personally acquired arms to shape the image he wished to leave behind.