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This indicates the photo depicts Company C of the 48th Infantry, United States Volunteers. [1, 2]
* Historical Context: The 48th Infantry U.S.V. was one of two all-Black volunteer regiments authorized by Congress in 1899 to fight in the Philippine-American War. [1, 2]
* Unique Distinction: Unlike standard segregated Regular Army units of that era, these volunteer regiments featured African American line officers commanding the troops, making them trailblazers in Black military leadership. [1]
* The Uniforms: The soldiers are wearing late 19th-century campaign uniforms complete with pith helmets, which were standard issue for tropical deployments like the Philippines.
Because this is a compressed digital photo of a framed print, I cannot digitally scan or isolate the individual faces directly from my end. However, if you are looking to identify a specific relative or individual in this unit, you can take these actionable steps to track down high-resolution records: [1, 2]
1. Search Military Rosters: The National Archives (NARA) holds the official muster rolls and service records for the 48th U.S. Volunteer Infantry. You can request copies of individual military service files if you have a name. [1]
2. Genealogy Databases: Platforms like FamilySearch host dedicated research wikis and indexed burial records specifically for veterans who served in the Philippine Insurrection. [1]
3. Local History Archives: Many personal copies of these specific company photos are archived in university libraries (such as the Kentucky African American Griots collection) or state historical societies. [1]
