Looks like an early war commutation jacket. Before the depot system kicked in. Appears to be a 8 or 9 button front with tape on the collar. No epaullettes and no piping or sleeve trim or buttons. As a graphic artist and one that understands color in photographs, I would say the tape is red. Red was and still is used in "print photography" as black. The dark color of the tape trim indicates red to me. Just my opinion. I'd say a private in an artillery unit. No rank stripes. Could be an early war militia or commutation jacket. Any info on this young man or where the picture came from?

Keith