A signed duplicate of an original I first saw in the Sgt. William F. Tilson cdv album formerly owned by artist/historian Don Troiani. Tilson, a Vermonter from Company E 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, collected photographs of his friends from both sharpshooter regiments. The cdv was a huge interest to me since it clearly showed a Berdan’s Sharpshooter wearing an issue fatigue blouse but with rubber buttons and dark green chevrons. The subject of this one is Clark H. Higgins, a 23-year old resident of Ferrisburgh, VT when he joined Company F (VT) 1st U.S. Sharpshooters in September, 1862. Higgins served with his company throughout the war until being detailed as regimental Commissary Sergeant in September 1864. He was discharged for disability on New Year’s Day, 1865. Unlike the other post-1861 recruits who survived into 1865, Higgins was not transferred into the 4th Vermont Infantry when the U.S. Sharpshooters were broken up as a unit.
Higgins is seen in this 1864-1865 portrait wearing a blue Federal issue fatigue blouse with rubber eagle buttons. His chevrons are dark green and appear to have two ties over the three arches which denote his rank as Commissary Sergeant. While I used to think Higgins was wearing dark green kersey trousers with his sack coat, he is in fact wearing trousers with a slight ribbed pattern similar to corduroy but less pronounced.
Brian White Collection.
They Expect Wonders of Us 