Sixth plate tintype. Full leatherette case. 

A bold portrait of an armed Union corporal, confidently posed in front of a large American flag. A brass company letter "G" can be seen affixed to the front of his cap. This flag "backdrop" is exclusively associated with the very early history of the hard-fought 2nd New Hampshire Infantry, a Granite State regiment that earned one of the Union army's longest list of battle honors during four years of service. In addition to the prominent use of the flag, the enterprising but unknown photographer carved a unique prop "US" buckle from wood so that it would appear correct in pictures. 

Given the clues above - we know the subject's regiment, rank, and company - it may be possible to definitively identify this soldier. In fact, a picture of a nearly identical-looking man named David Steele is seen on page 149 of the excellent A History of the Second Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, published in 1896 by a veteran named Martin Alonzo Haynes. In addition to the striking physical similarities, Steele began the War as a corporal of the 2nd NH's Company G. Despite some confusion regarding his original rank in official records, inscribed personal objects belonging to Steele have previously surfaced on the collector's market. Steele clearly lists his rank as "corporal" on these objects. 

If this is indeed Steele, he had a fighting record impressive even within the context of a very active regiment. Described as "big, brawny, large-hearted, and of dauntless courage," Steele rose to the rank of Captain. A man with an apparent penchant for both vulgarity and charging the enemy based on stories relayed by his comrades, he sustained his first wound at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run and another more serious wound at the Battle of Gettysburg. When his term of service expired in 1864, he re-enlisted as a lowly private and served another year with the 18th New Hampshire just to fight again. 

This is a compelling photograph with an even more tantalizing possible identification. 

[Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards] [Civil War, Union, Confederate]

Sixth plate tintype, housed in a full leatherette case.