Photo of a Review of Union Soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia Regiment on the South Common in Lowell, Massachusetts, During the American Civil War (1860's)

 

Photo of Union soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts Volunteer Militia Regiment and civilians on the South Common in Lowell, Massachusetts, c. 1861-1864. Taken by photographer Simon Towle and originally published as a stereoview. The caption on the back of the stereoview is: "May training on South Common, jail in distance, 7 companies of the 6th Regiment Volunteers." The city's jail is prominently featured in the background at center.

Source: New York Public Library.

Photo of Union Soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts Militia Regiment Posing in Battle Monument Square in Baltimore, Maryland (1861)

Portrait photo of Union soldiers of the 6th Massachusetts Militia Regiment posing in front of the War of 1812 Battle Monument in Battle Monument Square in Baltimore, Maryland, July 1, 1861. Attributed to photographer William Weaver. I think it is a possibility that using a studio portrait lens to take this outdoor photograph caused the edges of it to look so out of focus.

Source: Library of Congress.