Apr 8, 2011
Civil War brothers in arms, literally
(Click the image to see it full-size.)
From Print Collection:
Two unidentified soldiers in Union uniforms in front of painted backdrop showing military camp scene. Photographed between 1861 and 1865…. Photograph shows corporal’s chevrons on soldier at right.
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I’m not gonna ask and I’m not gonna tell.
Between 1861 and 1865? Man, I knew those old cameras made you sit there a long time, but…
You see that a lot in older photos of this era. Guys held hands all the time when posing for photos. It’s quite quaint.
Certainly, in the First World War, it was common for friends to link arms. There are many photos of soldiers arm-in-arm, seems to have gone out of fashion in the twenties.
This picture is from the Library of Congress collection.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=27125
That search address has other pictures with the same number.