what uniform is this

[Shaztoni]

I know the pictures not the best, on the back of the photo "Mississippi" was written what it means I have no idea.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
Sharon

[manmack]

sharon,sorry but all i can tell you is that the rifle is a martini henry, first type,and the men are wearing the british snake clasp belt,you need salty on this one,he will tell you when straw hats were phased out,the rifle appeared around 1867,its got a short lever the later model had a longer lever,the navys not my field,sorry i couldnt help ,mack

[Shaztoni]

Thanks Mack,
That's very interesting about the rifle, so I was right that they were sailors that's good.
Sharon

[Salty]

Hi I cannot give you a date, sorry.

However, definitely Royal Navy, pre 1900 and probably circa 1880 ish. Possibly even earlier.

If you look behind the two sailors in your picture, you can see the ratlines to their right,  the sailors used them to climb the masts. Behind them a wooden mast and the left hand of the two as you look at it, has his foot on a great wooden block.
Around  1900 most Naval ships were engine powered, although obviously there were a few sail ships employed.

Salty

I am old, but even so, well before my time