This slightly damaged tintype is very deceptive in its simplicity.
I believe it was carefully posed during the war to convey the reading of a letter from the battlefield.
Imagine for a moment these five girls - sisters to a soldier in the field -
sitting for their likeness and reading an actual letter they have received from their soldier brother.
Then this small tintype was mailed to the soldier. Need the feelings of the soldier when he received it be said?
I think not.
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