The photo of this soldier came from the collection of photographs once owned by Daniel and Velma Patterson. At the moment the soldier’s name is unknown but some things can be determined just by viewing the photograph.
For example, the insignia on the cap is comprised of crossed cannons with the number 6 above and the letter K below. Doing a quick search for crossed cannons insignia on Google locates a page on the Evolution of United States Army Insignia. An image on that page is similar to the one on our soldier and indicates an approximate time frame of 1901-1905 for this particular type of insignia.
The number six indicates the 6th Artillery (possibly 6th Field Artillery) and the letter indicates Battery K.
Perhaps locating a muster roll for that Battery would help identify the soldier, who had some relationship to the Patterson, Toler, Simpson, or related families of Craven and Pamlico Counties.
Another picture from the same collection appears to show the same man at a different time in his life. The photo mark indicates the photo was taken by Edward Gerock, a photographer in New Bern from 1877 until his death in 1906.
If anyone can identify this soldier, leave a comment below.