Figure 1.--We have found a ninth plate (2"x 2 1/2") Civil War tintype portrait in a full case. Although invented in the mid-1850s, we do not see as many Civil War tintypes as Ambrotypes for some reason. Pictured is a young Confederate volunteer in a shell jacket wearing a kepi. He is identified in pencil on the inside rear paper of the case as 'Stafford' of Company D, 17th Virginia Regiment.

We have found a ninth plate (2"x 2 1/2") Civil War tintype portrait in a full case. Although invented in the mid-1850s, we do not see as many Civil War tintypes as Ambrotypes for some reason. Pictured is a young Confederate volunteer in a shell jacket wearing a kepi. He is well uniformed. Many Confederate volunteers were not. It may indicate that he came from a family in comfortable circumstances. The Confederacy was unable to uniform and equip its troops like the Federal Government. The youth is identified in pencil on the inside rear paper of the case as 'Stafford' of Company D, 17th Virginia Regiment. The writing has derteriorated quite a bit and we do not see a date. A little research may uncover his first name and dates of service. He looks to still be a teenager, perhaps 18 years of age or so. It is youth like this that have caused some authors to refer to the Civil War as the Boys' War. Stafford was probably young enough to serve a regular infantry men. Younger boys served as musicians, both drummer boys and bugglers. The 17th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was raised in Virginia for service with the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. It primarily fought with Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. It was formed at Manassas Junction (June 1861) using the already formed 6th Battalion Virginia Militia as its nucleus. The soldiers like Stafford were recruited in the city of Alexandria and counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, and Warren. Thus we know that he was from Northern Virginia. The 17th served at Bull Run (around Manasas where the Regiment was formed), the Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Antitem. The Regiment was decimated at Antitem, but reconstituted fought at Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Appomattox. It was not disbanded until Lee finally surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House (April 1865). A true fighting regiment. We do not yet know when Stafford enlisted or anything about his service.

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Created: 6:05 PM 10/27/2013
Last edited: 6:05 PM 10/27/2013