The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

Sixth plate ambrotype portrait of an undocumented militiaman, possibly from an unknown New York or Pennsylvania company (image a bit soft in focus, overall good). Housed in full case (partially separated at hinge, surface wear throughout). The uniformed subject wears the distinctive M1839 wheel cap. Only one documented pre-war militia company wore the M1839 wheel cap, that being the Scott Legion of Philadelphia organized in1850 from local honorably discharged Mexican War veterans. However, the one illustration of their uniform dating to the late 1850s is not entirely consistent with the uniform shown in the ambrotype offered here. The young man holds what appears to be a M1842 musket. Research indicates that the pre-war Pennsylvania militia was largely armed with M1842 smoothbore muskets, suggesting that this militiaman may have represented a Pennsylvania unit. Our sincere thanks to Allen Cebula for this detailed information.