Not just popular in Fredericksburg apparently, most old brick buildings here in Chicago are the same way, including my 2-flat which was built in 1914. I never knew the name for this style before, thanks!

The cross badge worn by the Sergeant Major (second man from left) was likely an insignia denoting that he was a member of the 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Original badges were generally worn on the top of the kepi, left side of the hat, or over the left breast. Issued enlisted men's badges were cut from colored material.

Phil Kearny was killed in action 18 months before this picture was taken. I guess his division kept his name.

Also, all these Fredericksburg photos show the brickwork to be done in Scottish Bond: one row of headers, then 5 rows of stretchers, repeat. It must have been popular with the local masons.

And we need a real Civil War expert to explain the cross on the 2nd man from the left. All the Kearny Crosses I've ever seen were metal, but this soldier seems to be wearing a cloth cross.

[His Wikipedia entry says cloth crosses. - Dave]

Kearny is credited with devising the first unit insignia patches used in the U.S. Army. In the summer of 1862, he issued an order that his officers should wear a patch of red cloth on the front of their caps to identify themselves as members of his unit. The enlisted men, with whom Kearny was quite popular, quickly followed suit of their own volition. Members of other units picked up on the idea, devising their own insignia, and these evolved over the years into the modern shoulder patch.

Priceless. So much to derive from examining this photograph.
I love Shorpy.