I believe Massachusetts soldier "X" is holding a pepperbox pistol. You can see multiple holes at the top of the object. And it looks like an Allen & Thurber (maker) barrel design. And they just so happened to be manufactured in Massachusetts.

Garry Adelman and JD: Two of the best. This video just made my evening! Genuinely enjoy the content created on both channels.

The soldier holding the thing in his hand looks like a pepper box pistol. It sure could be!!

JD and Gary my 2 favorite and fantastic history nerds watch and learn so much from you guys keep up the great work you all do !!

I think the Mass man in the middle forgot his knife, so the photographer gave him something to hold. Bet it's something stupid like that

Guy's - It's a Pepperbox Pistol - Barrel holes ( Multiple ) - Look at the fluted chambers - Discern the light and shadow

Your channel, along with the American Battlefield Trust channel, single-handedly ignited my interest in the Civil War. By happenstance, I ended up moving to Kingston, GA & we found shot-balls often when landscaping. I now live in Resaca and I take my toddler to walk the beautiful Resaca Battlefield trails & the Fort Wayne (2 minutes east of the Resaca site,) every weekend. It is thanks to historians like you two, that I even took more interest in my 51st Ohio direct ancestor. Tracing his path during the Atlanta Campaign has brought great meaning to my life! I’ve been archiving all my research notes lately, in hopes maybe spark a passion for my kids in future decades. Thank You both for your time and contributions!!!🎉❤🎉❤

Could that "dynamite" be a pepper box pistol?

I could not be happier with a video. This is an intersection of two of my favorite channels on KZfaq. Garry has such a palpable passion for photography and is a wealth of information. Thank you so much for spending time on this subject. I learned a lot.

My great great grandfather fought and was wounded at cold harbor csa

My great-great-grandfather was wounded in this battle. He was in the New York 7th Heavy Artillery (used as infantry in 1864). He was wounded during Barlow's charge on the southern end of the Confederate trenches by a bayonet stab in his thigh. He spent several months in a hospital in Pennsylvania and was discharged due to his wound.

JD, I grew up and still live (somewhat) In the Cold Harbor area. There's so much history in this area from the Civil and Revolutionary wars and more. It would be fantastic to witness a live history lesson on the ground here in Cold Harbor taught by you. I'm sure I could learn a lot more than I ever even knew about my home town!

I am a proud civil war nerd. Excellent video. Thank you JD and Garry. ❤

Enjoyed the video JD. Love seeing old photographs. Garry's vast knowledge of the Civil War is awesome. I hope you do bring Garry back for more Civil War photography analysis.

Great great discussion Thank you JD.

Gary is the man!!!

Your channel is my favorite to learn and watch the history.

Thank you Gary and JD for the episode

Thank you for the Civil War content! I’ve started and stopped Shelby Foote’s Civil War series and really need to make the time to dive in; take a vacation to do some much wanted Civil War reading. I am familiar with the American Battlefield Trust via the Civil War Journal documentaries. Plan to go to Gettysburg this summer as well as Grant’s tomb.

Absolutely love the video!! In the photo of the photographer sitting by his wagon, it appears that the individual and horse to the right are covered by a partial fingerprint. Perhaps someone touched the plate while it was still wet? Found it interesting that it could be the photographers fingerprint. Keep up the great work.