[CIVIL WAR]. Ninth plate ruby ambrotype of Confederate cavalryman holding a Whitney Revolver, with possible attribution to Tennessee.

Ninth plate ruby ambrotype portrait of a bearded southern soldier identified by accompanying modern paper label as "Robert Kittrell, 2nd Battalion, 1st Tenn Cav, Co. I." (Good clarity, rather clean image, with very few minor spots; unsealed.) Housed in a fully separated pressed paper case (split at spine, surface wear throughout).

This nicely tinted portrait shows the cavalryman wearing a plain state issue jacket, probably a short frock coat, having at least 8 buttons consistent with Tennessee issue during the winter of 1861. He brandishes what appears to be a .36 caliber Whitney Revolver.

HDS lists two Robert H. Kittrells (likely the same person), with service in the 2nd Tennessee Battalion Cavalry beginning in July 1861 and the 6th Tennessee Cavalry beginning in May 1862; and one Robert W. Kittrell, with service in the 17th Tennessee Battalion Cavalry beginning in September 1862.

We have also received a note from a savvy client who believes this soldier more likely hails from a North Carolina regiment. He notes that the subject appears to be wearing a regulation 1861 North Carolina sack coat, and that the style of the image is consistent with the work of a Raleigh photographer, E. Hunt.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.