I am not convinced of this photo being the New York Knickerbockers, but I would like to thank the OP because researching this made me aware of this site
https://www.langdonroad.com/ which lists thousands of early photographers and studios based on public records. There is only one Dowling listed and the dates are more in line with the type of photograph this appears to be.
I am wondering if the "dating" of this image was based on someone writing 1896 on it and this being incorrectly interpreted as 1846 (since a badly written 9 can look like a 4).
I am spending way more time on this than I think it deserves...but it beats shoveling snow.
