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1864. "Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. Photographer [possibly Mathew Brady] at Butler's signal tower, Cobb's Hill, Appomattox River. Wet plate glass negative from photos of the main Eastern theater of war, the Army of the James, June 1864-April 1865. African American man standing along with Signal Corps." Note the camera lens on the grass, and cloth-draped darkroom on the wagon. View full size.
...the objects to the reclining gentleman's left? Partially dismantled photographic equipment, perhaps?
[The photo caption has your answer. -tterrace]
The guy lying on the ground and the officer on the picnic table are naval officers -- Naval Lieutenants. The US Navy changed its insignias five times during the civil war. The diagonal anchors on the shoulder boards and the shape of the wreaths on the caps limit the date of this picture to between January 29th 1864 to January 14th 1865.
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