American Historical Ephemera & Photography

22 3/8 x 17 in. albumen photograph on 23 1/2 x 19 1/2 in. mount (toned, very occasional spots). Subjects identified by pencil inscription to mount. 

A studio group portrait of the 7th New York National Guardsmen in their ubiquitous grey tailcoats with rows of black and gold trim across the front. The letter "D" is visible on several of the belt plates and the cross belt belts appear to have the numeral "7."  Sometime in 1865, the 7th NYNG adopted a chasseur-style uniform to replace their pre-war tailcoats. The company letter was replaced by a company number and worn on the belt plate. This distinct chasseur uniform was worn only until 1868 when a slightly modified version of the original 1861 tailcoat was once more adopted. These men wear the shorter, cut-down version of the unpopular 1851 shako. The shako was further shortened around 1868-69 for militia use and was sold by Benton & Bush of Boston, ultimately superseded by a militia version of the even shorter army pattern 1872 dress cap.