A young Union soldier anchors this ninth plate tintype, presented in a leather case with an embossed quatrefoil and scrollwork pattern repeated identically on both covers. The portrait dates to the Civil War era and is held within an ornate gilt mat set against red velvet padding, with an embossed orange fabric liner on the opposing leaf. The photographer's imprint is not visible.

The soldier faces the camera with a direct, composed expression beneath a forage cap bearing regimental insignia on the front band, the specific device legible as a military badge. He wears a dark sack coat over a vertically striped shirt with a white collar and loosely knotted cravat, and a white strap crosses his chest diagonally from the right shoulder, consistent with a cartridge box or haversack sling.

Forage caps of this style, sometimes called kepis, were standard Union issue throughout the Civil War, and the regimental device on the crown provides a potential avenue for identification. The diagonal shoulder strap and informal mixed-dress appearance were common among enlisted men photographed early in the conflict before full uniform standardization took hold.

From the collection of James Lee Soffer