Another very edited post, we have them around here as well, I love the smoke! tigs=^..^=

Jerry - It seems that the 2nd Lt is getting the same respect from the enlisted ranks as in the real army - ignored. Your image captures the drama of the reenactment - well done!

Truly a capture right out of history, Jerry. Having had a 33+ year career in history, I am rather familiar with uniforms of this period. The mixture here is interesting but, since it's a reenactment group, something to be expected. The infantry captain on the far left wears a maroon sash, appropriate for a staff or line officer (as well as the gold-thread bugle on his kepi), but the crimson sash of the sergeant next to him and the corporal on the far right are indicative of artillery, whereas for infantry non-coms, they wouldn't have worn a sash at all. Some of these men are sporting a red diamond on the tops of their kepi hats, indicative of their being in the 3rd Corps of the Army of the Potomac (one guy is even wearing a slouch hat), while others are blank. In general, particularly for Union troops, hair was kept short and beards were restricted to officers to support hygiene. We have a number of reenactment groups here in North Dakota, from the same time period, but not to the extent the eastern and southern states do. Our military at the that time were mainly volunteers, much like today's National Guardsmen (although they were brought out mostly for emergencies and, since 9-11, our Guardsmen have been nearly as active as the regular Army). Despite all the personal accoutrement these men are exhibiting, it is still an image worth keeping in mind while reading a Jeff Shaara novel. Outstanding photo and I really like the filtering you use... it really adds to the authenticity.

-Nik

Fabulous re-enactment and capture...you know, this would fit well with our current contest theme...just a thought...super shot, Jerry.