American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

Sixth plate ruby ambrotype portrait of an unknown New York militia private hailing from Company C, 71 New York State Militia. (Some chemical deterioration around edges, few spots, image a bit dark in certain areas.) Housed in a fully separated pressed paper case (split at spine, surface wear/loss throughout).

This fantastic image features the private's issue knapsack, complete with a rolled blanket, resting on top of a heavy wool greatcoat nearby. He wears a dark blue fatigue jacket with light blue cloth shoulder straps, and a dark blue forage cap. The two slashes on the lower sleeve might indicate the non-commissioned rank of corporal. His white waist belt and cross belt straps appear to be a holdover from the 71st's earlier 1857 uniform.

The 71st NYSM was a New York City regiment originally raised in 1852, known as the American Guard or American Rifles.  The American Guard became the nucleus of the war-raised (in September 1862) 124th NY Infantry, aka the "Orange Blossoms." The regiment served the entirety of the war most prominently in the III Corps, Army of the Potomac, fighting at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Petersburg and Appomattox campaigns suffering 11 officers and 137 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in battle.