Sixth plate studio portrait ambrotype. [Charleston, South Carolina?]: n.p., ca late 1850s to early 1861. Full embossed leather case lined with a floral scroll-embossed ruby velvet pad. Elliptical stamped brass mat and preserver. Accompanied by modern typed notation: "The Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1842 it is the third oldest of the six senior military colleges in the United States."

This striking, poised three-quarter-length studio portrait captures a youthful South Carolina cadet seated beside a draped studio table. He wears the distinctive dress uniform coatee associated with the Citadel characterized by horizontal chest braiding ending in brass buttons, an open standing collar with high-collared shirt and dark cravat, a matching double-breasted vest, and dark trousers bearing a broad vertical stripe along the outer seam. He also wears fitted gauntlets, with one hand casually grasping his coat.

Cadets of the Citadel played an instrumental, symbolic role in the outbreak of the American Civil War, most famously manning the guns at Morris Island on 9 January 1861, and firing some of the first shots of the Civil War upon the federal supply steamer Star of the West. Cased antebellum photographs of Citadel cadets in pre-war or early-war uniforms are among the hardest to find Confederate-related images in 19th-century military collecting.

[Civil War, Confederate, The Citadel, South Carolina Military Academy, SCMA, Charleston South Carolina, Cadet, Military School, Coatee, Ambrotype, Sixth Plate, Cased Image, Antebellum Militaria, 19th Century Military Photography, Star of the West]

Very good condition. The ambrotype retains sharp focal definition across the sitter’s facial features and the uniform braiding, set against a smooth gray ground with light, scattered surface dusting and faint edge tarnish beneath the mat.