Since this happened in Alexandria, I guess there's a possibility it was taken at the Inn. The post next to him could have been part of a stairwell or somesuch but I doubt it. We see so many similar props in those photo's it's unusual to find a 'real' scene. Like those taken from around 1870-1910 of family groups, there's the same looking wicker chair in almost everyone of them. Children's photos have a wicker rocker. I have a photo album from somewhere in Ohio of people that I have no clue to their last names and they're all in the same type of setting. Got the album for $5 at an auction years ago and used a few to help a friend decorate a cafe. If I knew who they belonged to I would send it to them.
Pam