The youthful subject is seated against a studio backdrop, his shell jacket having three chevrons, eagle buttons, and the distinctive 3rd Corp diamond insignia. the image is housed under glass in a full case retaining a relatively sturdy hinge.

This image is said to have surfaced in a south central Virginia estate sale, yet the sitter is unlikely to have been a Virginian given his uniform. There is a mystery here.

Union soldier portraits displaying clear corps badges are highly desirable. Members of the Army of the Potomac's 3rd Corps participated in the major battles of 1862-1863, including Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. The sitter's troubled expression and sergeant's stripes indicate that he probably "saw the elephant" on one or more of these hallowed fields.

Excellent surfaces with no losses or cracks; good tonal contrasts.