Half Plate Ambrotype of Confederate Colonel

The Confederate Colonel shown in this half plate ambrotype has a hard bitten look about him. His cap has the proper braid for a Confederate Colonel, and the three stars on his collar stand out boldly.  Otherwise is frock coat is unadorned.  This is most likely a later War photograph, when it did not pay officers to be too flashy.

He wears a sword belt fastened by an 1851 style belt plate and interestingly he wears his sash on the outside of the belt.  The face of his belt plate cannot be determined because the gilt used on his buttons, the sword and his sword belt plate have over time, destroyed the emulsion under the gilt.

All the other details of his countenance, his uniform and equipage remain very clear.

The image is house in a leatherette case with an unbroken spine.

I do not know whether this has been published or can be identified, I simply have not had the time to look.