A Young Cavalry Officer

Shotgun Steve · October 28, 2009, 11:56:23 AM

The Cavalier by John C.H. Grabill, 1890. This photo shows a young cavalry officer and his horse at Camp Cheyenne. What a magnificent horse!

Drydock · October 28, 2009, 04:43:44 PM

Private, not an officer. But a magnificent photo!

Ol Gabe · October 28, 2009, 05:23:50 PM

Interesting pic...
Can one of our Historical Mil-experts ID the cartridge belt he is wearing? It appears as though it has a flap covering the top of the cartridges. Also, any conjecture on what is in the holster? It looks like a large framed revolver, and what rifle does he have in the scabbard? Details, details, details, that is what makes these pics so much fun!
And for our Horse pros, is that a scar just ahead of the blanket on the front leg? Don't ever recall any bone structure on a horse there that would bulge out like that is.
Now, 'IF' it is a Military pic, why doesn't the horse have a Cavalry blanket with the stripe or unit number? Again, details, just curious and hope to learn more.
Best regards and thanks for the pic!
'Ol Gabe

Cactus Rope · October 28, 2009, 09:53:54 PM

Quote from: Ol Gabe on October 28, 2009, 05:23:50 PM
Interesting pic...
Can one of our Historical Mil-experts ID the cartridge belt he is wearing? It appears as though it has a flap covering the top of the cartridges. Also, any conjecture on what is in the holster? It looks like a large framed revolver, and what rifle does he have in the scabbard? Details, details, details, that is what makes these pics so much fun!
And for our Horse pros, is that a scar just ahead of the blanket on the front leg? Don't ever recall any bone structure on a horse there that would bulge out like that is.
Now, 'IF' it is a Military pic, why doesn't the horse have a Cavalry blanket with the stripe or unit number? Again, details, just curious and hope to learn more.
Best regards and thanks for the pic!
'Ol Gabe

Don't see any scare on the leg, do see something at the front corner of the blanket on the shoulder, point of the shoulder and upper arm. Probably is some kind of injury from runnin through the brush in that part of the country.

Capt. Montgomery Little · October 28, 2009, 11:33:37 PM

I have the same picture in a history book. Soldier is a private wearing drooping Mills belt with appropriate issue SAA 45 and a Trapdoor carbine in the knuckle. Blanket is probably what the QM could rustle up or a personal item which was quite OK with the Army as it saved them some money. I believe the time period is about mid 1880s.

Shotgun Steve · October 29, 2009, 08:48:16 AM

Thanks for the correction. I too assumed the man was a private but I posted the picture
description anyway. Because I had no other information at the time.

Shotgun

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · October 29, 2009, 09:44:09 AM

That photo is in PACKING IRON. I believe it illustrates one of the later modifications of issue holsters required to accomodate the ever wider cartridge belts of the 1880's

Drydock · October 30, 2009, 09:42:05 PM

Hes wearing a modified M1881 cartridge belt. THis belt was the first issue of a woven belt, with attached leather billets for a brass bar buckle. The holster is an M1881 with the "Forsythe" modification. The Carbine is carried in the early short pattern M1885 carbine boot. Picture appears Mid 1880s. Data from "Packing Iron" Enlarging the picture seems to indicate by the shape of the butt that the revolver is a Colt SAA 7.5" issue revolver.