A seated military officer in a hand-colored sixth plate ambrotype holds his shako across his lap in a three-quarter length portrait of exceptional detail and preservation. The image is housed in an ornate embossed gilt frame with a rounded rectangular mat and blue-tinted backing, consistent with ambrotype presentation of the late 1850s to early 1860s. No photographer's imprint is visible.

The subject wears a light gray or tan military tunic with a red standing collar, two rows of white metal buttons running down the front, and prominent fringed epaulettes at both shoulders rendered with applied color highlighting in gold and white. A black leather waist belt with a visible plate is worn at the midsection, and red fabric accents appear at the cuffs. The shako held in his lap is black with a decorative front plate bearing a starburst or wreath design surrounding a central letter, most likely an A, with crossed elements beneath it.

The uniform style, particularly the double-breasted button arrangement, fringed epaulettes, and tall dress shako with ornate badge, is consistent with mid-nineteenth century European or Latin American military dress rather than standard United States Army regulation uniform, suggesting the subject may have served in a foreign or ceremonial military capacity.