4 interesting old photographs.

[rangerider7]

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Drummer





Cowboys from Wyoming

[Gun Smith]

The women looks like she has a pistol with an attached buttstock, and a fencing foil on her hip. Was she part of the show?

[rangerider7]

Gun Smith, you are right but It doesn't say if she was part of it. It is dated 1870.

[pokey]

the woman, and the boys from wyoming, are they

left handed, or are the pics flopped? what's your guess?

[Terry Murbach]

NOT FLOPPED, TINTYPES, I THINK. OR MAYBE DAQUERROTYPES[SP].

[Buck Elliott]

The "cowboys from Wyoming...?"

Seriously doubt it in that context, although they may have been originally from (or maybe IN-) Wyoming...

If "banjo boy" is a top soldier in the US Army, no wonder the "late unpleasantness" lasted so long!

Interesting group of photos.

[pokey]

The "cowboys from Wyoming...?"

nope, just boys.

no cow in 'em.

[Charles]

The sword the lady is wearing is a U.S. Staff and Field Officers Sword Model of 1860. As officers were not issued sword but bought their own, they are some variance between makers. This pattern was also used by a number of fraternal organizations.

In 1902 all of the various Army officers sword/sabers was replaced with the All Officers Saber of 1902 which is the one still in use.

[RSY]

I know people shot up through the ranks quickly sometimes in that war, but am I to really believe that kid in the first picture was First Sergeant???

Scott

[Modoc ED]

I know people shot up through the ranks quickly sometimes in that war, but am I to really believe that kid in the first picture was First Sergeant???

Scott

Sure. In those days, rank wasn't necessarily assigned as to miliatary ability but rather your status in civilian life. For instance, a Mayor from a town where the men of the town enlisted as a group may have been given the rank of Major and maybe his son was assigned the rank of First Sergeant. You could also buy rank in that day and time. Wanna be a Captain? Got a thousand dollars? Well by gum yer a Captain. Congratulations.

[Ysabel Kid]

Another cool set!!!

[RKrodle]

When I saw the boy with the banjo I thought some military academy/school.

[Modoc ED]

That could be but I doubt if Military Academy Schools of that day had Henry Rifles. Interesting thought though.

[RKrodle]

That could be but I doubt if Military Academy Schools of that day had Henry Rifles. Interesting thought though.

They only needed one for picture day.

[FWiedner]

When I saw the boy with the banjo I thought some military academy/school.

My thought as well.

[rangerider7]

The photo of the young man with the Henry rifle and banjo is a 1870's cdv. That looks to be an Indian War period uniform to me. I am in no way a military expert so I could be wrong but I don't thank it is a military academy uniform. There is nothing to identify it in any way but a very interesting photo.

[RSY]

Sure. In those days, rank wasn't necessarily assigned as to military ability but rather your status in civilian life. For instance, a Mayor from a town where the men of the town enlisted as a group may have been given the rank of Major and maybe his son was assigned the rank of First Sergeant. You could also buy rank in that day and time. Wanna be a Captain? Got a thousand dollars? Well by gum yer a Captain. Congratulations.

Maybe so for some ranks back then, but First Sergeant isn't just a rank/pay grade, it's a functional billet. You couldn't just stitch on that diamond and fake it and run a company well. The "officers" of the phony variety you mention above may have been able to function, but only because they had competent NCOs supporting them until they learned the ropes. Of course, I could be wrong here.