Today we will feature a portrait probably taken in 1861 or 1862 and had one very unusual aspect not found in the vast majority of Civil War images.

This image seen above is a rather special one, as it was hand colored with great detail after it was taken.  It almost has the appearance of a genuine color photograph.  A Union soldier is seen standing outdoors with rows of Sibley tents in the background leaning against a cannon.  The reason why we think it was taken early in the war is that the gun is a 6 pounder.  6 pounders were the mainstay of the U.S. field artillery before the war, but advancements in iron rifled guns and the introduction of the light 12 pound Napoleon made them obsolete.  While they saw use west of the Appalachian Mountains throughout most of the war, in the east they were rapidly replaced by both sides in favor of heavier or more accurate guns.  It’s true we could be mistaken, but an argument can certainly be made that the soldier pictured is a Union volunteer out in the field in 1861 or 1862.