Postcard Springfield
WWI soldier on horse: what can we learn about him from this picture?
This 'may' be a picture of my grandmother's father, whose identity is unknown. Can anyone gather any clues from this picture? Does his uniform indicate any rank? Does the fact that he's on a horse mean anything? There's patch on his sleeve with two crossed hammers(?), and his saddle blanket has the number "2" on it. The photo is printed on a postcard by a photographer in Springfield, IL. Any observations would be appreciated. I've got nothin' to go on but this!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2543/4516903240_1d13fb888e_b.jpg
The insignia is the patch used to designate an "Artificer" from the Spanish American War.
http://www.usarmypatches.com/Rank%20Insignia%20SAW.htm
The uniform looks to be from the Spanish American War
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kshs.org/portraits/graphics/spanish_american_war.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kshs.org/portraits/spanish_american_war.htm&usg=__yNrQS__JlUYOzDq1u2JCtEPvD7E=&h=392&w=494&sz=42&hl=en&start=18&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=CLaTyXaj600HkM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspanish%2Bamerican%2Bwar%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3D0ZX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1
The saddle appears to be a McClellan saddle but doesn't show enough to date but it is consistent with a post Civil War saddle or the 1904 version used in WW1.
The hat he is wearing also looks like he is wearing it in the "Montana Peak" style which is another indicator of the Spanish American War.
The tent is also of the style from the Spanish American War. (sixth picture down)
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/photo_exhibits/spanishamerican/images/_rc02394.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/photo_exhibits/spanishamerican/spanishamericanwar3.cfm&usg=__upgDLQ49VwvfrRJJfd15yXWGAvM=&h=308&w=466&sz=92&hl=en&start=11&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Grq0_a_5CGgI1M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSpanish%2BAmerican%2BWar%2Btents%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1
 |
 1950s Matchbook Hollywood Cafe Route 6 and 22 Springfield Freak Brewster NY $4.74 Time Remaining: 2h 22m Buy It Now for only: $4.74 |
 POSTCARD MO POST OFFICE AND COURT BLG SPRINGFIELD $4.99 Time Remaining: 3h 22m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 c 1907 SPRINGFIELD MO DREAMLAND WHITE CITY POSTCARD $24.99 Time Remaining: 5h 58m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 1936 ROSE GARDENS FOREST PARK SPRINGFIELD MA POSTCARD $2.80 Time Remaining: 6h 16m Buy It Now for only: $2.80 |
 2 Vintage Postcard Souvenir Books Springfield Illinois $4.49 Time Remaining: 7h 48m Buy It Now for only: $4.49 |
 Country House Dining Interior Springfield IL postcard $5.00 Time Remaining: 8h 21m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 SPRINGFIELD MA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS NATURAL HISTORY AND $17.49 Time Remaining: 8h 31m Buy It Now for only: $17.49 |
 LINCOLNS TOMB IN OAK RIDGE CEMETERY SPRINGFIELD ILL CARDP2811 $3.99 Time Remaining: 9h 34m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 OCONNER LINCOLN AT FRONT OF STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGSPRINGFIELD ILL $3.99 Time Remaining: 9h 45m Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
 SPRINGFIELD MASS THE FLYING SQUADRON POSTMARKED 1908 $25.99 Time Remaining: 10h 4m Buy It Now for only: $25.99 |
 Sangamon County Court House Springfield IL PC $3.97 Time Remaining: 10h 15m Buy It Now for only: $3.97 |
 Westfield Springfield Street RR MA postcard 1908 $9.71 Time Remaining: 10h 23m Buy It Now for only: $9.71 |
 Old Toll Bridge Springfield MA postcard 1911 $9.71 Time Remaining: 10h 30m Buy It Now for only: $9.71 |
 1909 SPRINGFIELD Ohio Real Photo RPPC Postcard Home Clark County $6.50 Time Remaining: 10h 33m Buy It Now for only: $6.50 |
 Springfield MA Church c1910 Postcard $4.79 Time Remaining: 10h 36m Buy It Now for only: $4.79 |
 Springfield MA Church c1910 Postcard $4.79 Time Remaining: 10h 36m Buy It Now for only: $4.79 |
 Springfield MA Buckingham School c1910 Postcard $4.79 Time Remaining: 10h 36m Buy It Now for only: $4.79 |
 1908 THE ARSENAL SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS POSTCARD $2.48 Time Remaining: 11h 7m Buy It Now for only: $2.48 |
 EARLYUNION RAILROAD DEPOTSPRINGFIELDILLINOIS $1.04 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 20m |
 Springfield WVa Fishing Party Real Photo 1911 Postcard $18.05 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 37m |
 Vintage 1950s Aerial View of Downtown Springfield Massachusetts $0.99 Time Remaining: 12h 14m |
 Second Street Springfield Jacksonville FL FLorida Postcard $4.95 Time Remaining: 12h 28m Buy It Now for only: $4.95 |
 Post Office Springfield Mass Post Card $4.25 Time Remaining: 12h 55m Buy It Now for only: $4.25 |
 Post Card Union Station in Springfield Mass 1909 $9.99 Time Remaining: 12h 56m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Post Card Homes on State Elliot St Springfield Mass $7.99 Time Remaining: 12h 57m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 East Church Congregational Springfield MA Hampden PC $3.97 Time Remaining: 13h 4m Buy It Now for only: $3.97 |
 IL SPRINGFIELD STATE CAPITOL HIGH QUALITY M12775 EARLY $7.75 Time Remaining: 13h 5m Buy It Now for only: $7.75 |
 1909 View High St ME Church Springfield OH A297 $1.99 Time Remaining: 13h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 1916 Ohio Masonic Home Springfield OH A299 $1.99 Time Remaining: 13h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
 1909 Springfield Mass Main Street TROLLEY $7.99 Time Remaining: 13h 22m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Post Card Classical Hall Springfield Mo $7.99 Time Remaining: 13h 33m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 SPRINGFIELDMA HIGHLAND HOTEL INT LINEN ADV 1615 19 $9.95 Time Remaining: 13h 59m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 High School Springfield Mass vintage postcard 1917 $9.00 Time Remaining: 14h 7m Buy It Now for only: $9.00 |
 1909 First Baptist Church Springfield MO PC Postcard $9.99 Time Remaining: 14h 8m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Baptist Building Springfield IL Sangamon PC $3.97 Time Remaining: 14h 11m Buy It Now for only: $3.97 |
 US Medical Center Springfield MO vintage postcard $9.99 Time Remaining: 14h 12m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 1907 postcard Calhoun Park Springfield Mass $3.95 Time Remaining: 14h 14m Buy It Now for only: $3.95 |
 Post card Masonic Temple Springfield Illinois $7.99 Time Remaining: 14h 16m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 St Johns Hospital Springfield Illinois 1939 postcard $4.00 Time Remaining: 14h 32m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 |
 Connecticut River w Mt Toms in distance Springfield MA $4.68 Time Remaining: 14h 49m Buy It Now for only: $4.68 |
 MA SPRINGFIELD AUTO AERIAL LADDER CIRCA 1915 T87045 $20.00 Time Remaining: 15h 1m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 IL SPRINGFIELD WEST SIDE OF SQUARE MAILED 1911 T47105 $7.75 Time Remaining: 15h 2m Buy It Now for only: $7.75 |
 IL SPRINGFIELD FERGUSON BUILDING MAILED 1908 T47107 $9.99 Time Remaining: 15h 2m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 PC ITALIAN AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL SPRINGFIELD MA $3.00 Time Remaining: 15h 13m Buy It Now for only: $3.00 |
 SPRINGFIELD NJ SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL BUILDING $4.99 Time Remaining: 15h 26m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 MAIN STREET SPRINGFIELD VERMONT VT Postcard c1906 $7.99 Time Remaining: 15h 34m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 ADNABROWN HOTEL SPRINGFIELD VERMONT VT Postcard 1907 $7.29 Time Remaining: 15h 34m Buy It Now for only: $7.29 |
 US Armory from Benton Park 1911 Springfield MA post card $6.00 Time Remaining: 15h 36m Buy It Now for only: $6.00 |
 Forest Park Dam Fountain Springfield MA Hampden PC $4.07 Time Remaining: 15h 37m Buy It Now for only: $4.07 |
 IL SPRINGFIELD CITY HALL TOWN VIEW VERY EARLY T47209 $5.00 Time Remaining: 15h 44m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 MA WEST SPRINGFIELD GROTTO MONASTERY ALBERTYPE T47317 $15.00 Time Remaining: 15h 46m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 |
 Post Card St Nicholas Hotel In Springfield Illinois $7.99 Time Remaining: 16h 2m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Post Card Rock Village Court Springfield Missouri $9.99 Time Remaining: 16h 2m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 E7298 VT Springfield jones Lamson Shop Photo Postcard $25.99 Time Remaining: 16h 7m Buy It Now for only: $25.99 |
 MA Mass Springfield City Library and Art Museum Postcard $4.99 Time Remaining: 16h 15m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 E29 SpringfieldMass Flying Squadron Chemical B Hose Co No 7 1910 flag cancel $24.99 Time Remaining: 16h 16m |
 Black Horse Motel West Springfield Massachusetts MA Postcard $6.75 Time Remaining: 16h 18m Buy It Now for only: $6.75 |
 First ME Church SpringfieldIllinois $3.44 Time Remaining: 16h 20m Buy It Now for only: $3.44 |
 Pecousic Villa Forest Park Springfield Mass $2.38 Time Remaining: 16h 35m Buy It Now for only: $2.38 |
 Birch Trees Forest Park Springfield Massachusetts $2.38 Time Remaining: 16h 35m Buy It Now for only: $2.38 |
 Armory Grounds Entrance Springfield Massachusetts $2.38 Time Remaining: 16h 35m Buy It Now for only: $2.38 |
 POST OFFICE SPRINGFIELD MO 1937 STAMP VINTAGE POSTCARD $5.89 Time Remaining: 16h 46m Buy It Now for only: $5.89 |
 Post Card Kimball Hotel YMCA Springfield Mass $7.99 Time Remaining: 16h 47m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 FL JACKSONVILLE THE WATER WORKS SPRINGFIELD 1912 T87935 $3.75 Time Remaining: 16h 50m Buy It Now for only: $3.75 |
 304 nj springfield union caldwell presbyterian church parsonage Old postcard $2.79 Time Remaining: 16h 53m |
 City Library Springfield MA Sangamon County Postcard $4.80 Time Remaining: 16h 57m Buy It Now for only: $4.80 |
 Post Card Shultzs Fine Foods Springfield Ohio $7.99 Time Remaining: 17h 5m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 |
 Christian Science Church SpringfieldMassachusetts $1.79 Time Remaining: 17h 7m Buy It Now for only: $1.79 |
 Springfield Illinois IL 1912 Tinted Postcard View of Post Office $7.50 Time Remaining: 17h 10m Buy It Now for only: $7.50 |
 SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS Odd Fellows Building 1907 postard $3.50 Time Remaining: 17h 18m |
 SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS OLD TOLL BRIDGE POSTMARKED 1909 1256 $0.15 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 17h 21m |
 SPRINGFIELDIL SUPREME COURT BUILDING UNUSED $0.15 Time Remaining: 17h 21m |
 SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS GOVERNORS MANSION 1372 $0.15 Time Remaining: 17h 22m |
 State Capitol Reception Springfield IL 1910 Postcard $6.99 Time Remaining: 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS FIRST CHURCH POSTMARKED 1935 1252 $0.15 Time Remaining: 17h 40m |