Estimating the Height of a Civil War Soldier
Estimation of the height of a non-commissioned officer of Co. E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, Fort Lincoln, Washington, D.C., November 17, 1865.
1. Identification of rifle, a Model 1863 Springfield, 56 inches long.
2. Setting a vertical scale to match the known length of the rifle.
3. Transferring that scale to the soldier, giving an approximate height of 5 feet, 6 inches.
This technique is not precise, and requires a standard of object of known length, held with its long axis at right angles to the photograph, close to the subject's body.
Estimating the Height of a Civil War Soldier
Estimation of the height of a non-commissioned officer of Co. E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, Fort Lincoln, Washington, D.C., November 17, 1865.
1. Identification of rifle, a Model 1863 Springfield, 56 inches long.
2. Setting a vertical scale to match the known length of the rifle.
3. Transferring that scale to the soldier, giving an approximate height of 5 feet, 6 inches.
This technique is not precise, and requires a standard of object of known length, held with its long axis at right angles to the photograph, close to the subject's body.