M.W.Tennant
.. He was a local commerical photography artist with a studio at the Corner of Washington Ave and 26th St. in Newport News Va, during the late 1890 and 1900 era. He also was known to take military group photos of troops, sailors, ships etc.

Newport News is in eastern Va in the environs of both Portsmouth and Norfolk. These were (and still is) a major east coast international shipping ports. This includes a departure point for naval and troop ships going to Europe and elsewhere. It would be feasible that the unit had a group picture taken before or after a deplorement there of some sort.

Frederick