[CIVIL WAR]. Sixth plate ruby ambrotype of a Baxter's Fire Zouave, 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry. 

Sixth plate ruby ambrotype seated portrait of a Zouave private with fine hand tinting. (Great clarity, with a few dark spots to upper edge of image; unsealed.) Housed in a half pressed paper case (general wear throughout). The unidentified subject wears the uniform of the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry regiment, or "Baxter's Fire Zouaves" (Zouaves - The First and the Bravest, McAfee, p. 72), including the unit's distinctive open dark blue jacket having triple lines of thin red braiding around the stand-up collar and down each placket, with a row of typical ball buttons. He rests his arm on table draped with a beautifully tinted American flag featuring gold-highlighted stars. 

The 72nd Pennsylvania was raised in Philadelphia from members of the city's fire companies. Its enlisted fought at Gettysburg and during Pickett's Charge found themselves "stationed by the stone wall at the Angle" at the apex of the onslaught.


The Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann