Featured Civil War Era Tin Type

I picked up this tin type yesterday because I liked the subjects, as well as the condition. It is a standard 1/6 plate size but I could use some help with identifying the uniforms and perhaps tying the soldiers to a specific regiment and rank (I assume infantry). Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

I think they're going to be National Guard somewhere. I had some photos from 1895 or so that had Wisconsin National Guard looking very similar.

 

Well, that is interesting and makes sense as I was struggling a bit with the uniforms. Thanks

 

@springfld.arsenal Can you date those rifles?

 

Can you post a sharper closeup of the emblem on the cap of the man on the left, and the medals on the chest of the man on the right?

 

I absolutely will as soon as it arrives next week.

 

@Daniel G Spanish American war or just before : the round "medals" look like Pennsylvania National guard with the service year badge: Can you read the belt buckles? if they say NGP then it's National guard Pennsylvania ...... also the buttons on the bayonet frogs said NGP ... the rifles are Springfield 45/70 rifles , the national guard units took them to the Philippines and Cuba before they were replaced with Krag rifles....

 

Thanks you, firemandk. Great insight! I will follow up with close up photos once the tin type arrives.

 

Sorry that I did not get the closeups posted sooner. Here you go.

 

I wondered why they were wearing their medals on that side, but seeing that belt buckle makes me think the print was made inverted. Needs to be flipped horizontally.

Do you have a closeup of the cap?

 

A tintype will always be a "reversed", mirror image. The process produces a "direct positive" - the plate placed in the camera becomes the final photograph, as opposed to a two-step process using a negative to create a positive print. Daguerreotypes and ambrotypes are also direct positives.

 

Indian Wars National Guard of Pennsylvania?