This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.counties.berkshire/3748.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thanks Patty. I have contaced the North Adams Historical Society and they did not tell me much. Just that it was a bayonett stuck in a rifle. I am guessing this man may have been my great great grandfather, James F. Cooney and as far as I know he came to America from Ireland in 1871 so that would be AFTER the Civil War, correct? Thanks for telling me about that book in the library. Perhaps I can have a look in there somehow. I live in New Jersey though and would need to take a trek up that way. thanks so much for your reply! Interesting that you have a McNamara in your family... as my James Cooney married an Elizabeth McNamara. But that McNamara family was from Fall River, Mass. and I don't think any of them were in North Adams. My Cooneys moved from North Adams to Fall River around 1893-1898. Also, perhaps I could check grave stones and see if any of my ancestors have any military markers on theirs. do you think many had civil war medallions on them like your ancestor's? I wonder if he was in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War which I see came after the GAR. I believe this photo was taken between 1880 and 1890 and that like I said, I'm not sure my ancestor would have served in the Civil War since he came in 1871. perhaps his father was already in the USA though and served. I really don't know. I am hoping there is someone out there that knows more about uniforms and could help. I have yet to really figure out what this photo is of/for.