22 Responses to Question of the Week: What’s your favorite Civil War photo?
CSS Shenandoah undergoing repairs in Williamstown, Port of Melbourne, Australia January/February 1865. Exactly halfway round the world from Bermuda, this image illustrates how broad was the reach of America’s Civil War. Originally credited to The Age Newspaper, Melbourne, this photograph was later claimed by the U.S. Navy. This rendering care of americancivilwar.com https://americancivilwar.com/tcwn/civil_war/Navy_Ships/CSS_Shenandoah.html
My favorite photo is by Timothy O’Sullivan, of the dead Confederate sharpshooter in his sniper position in the Devil’s Den at Gettysburg. Not just for its dramatic or morbid features, but because it has sparked years of interesting debate.
First it was taken at face value. Then it was deemed staged, the body having been dragged yards from the soldier’s “true” site of death (an NPS photo allegedly shows the same soldier in a position 40 yards away) for dramatic effect by O’Sullivan. Then a counter-argument was advanced that O’Sullivan moved the body from the sniper position so that no competitor could replicate the dramatic position he found. Then there have been studies trying to identify the soldier.
It is the photo that launched countless arguments and theories. Great example of the types of debate and study that mark the study of the war.
The three Confederate prisoners at Gettysburg … one of the only pics taken of ANV soldiers in the field … taken by one of Matthew Brady’s team about two weeks after Gettysburg on Seminary Ridge looking east … the photographer didn’t identify the men so all we see are three lean, rock hard cases that have “the look”
I’m not sure if there is a photo of the City Point meeting of the four discussing the how Lincoln what’s the war to end aboard the River Queen! I think your referencing the painting called the Peacemaker! I really love that too! The four deep in discussion at a poignant time of the Civil War is awesome!
I like the one titled “General Grant and his General Staff” taken by Timothy O’Sullivan in 1864. It shows most of Grant’s staff sitting around outside, with Grant, underneath a couple of large trees. They appear to be intent on working out the details of upcoming efforts and battles.
I’ll share with Mark’s reference to the photo of the three Confederates. It sorta looks as though they might be hanging out at the bus stop, waiting for a wagon to pick them up for their trip to the beach at Point Lookout.
But I’ll offer a Timothy O’Sullivan photograph, taken on May 4, 1864 at Germanna Ford. It’s the image of the Army of the Potomac crossing the Rapidan River and moving east into the Wilderness. The line of wagons bespeak of the enormous power of the Union force that is about to be unleashed during what we now refer to as the Overland Campaign. The photograph must have made an indelible impact upon Bruce Catton as he described the scene in “A Stillness at Appomattox” as “…the last bright morning” while paraphrasing Theodore Lyman’s reflection about identifying “…all of those who were never coming back.”
Tough choice, but one of my favorites to show people is “Petersburg, Virginia. Interior view of Fort Sedgwick,” Gives a great ground-but-not-quite-eye-level view of earthworks that have undergone long-term improvement.
The Confederate dead of Semmes’ brigade on the Rose Farm. It was the first amazing location discovery by Bill Frassanito at the Gettysburg battlefield. For many years it was labeled Union dead of the Iron Brigade at McPherson’s woodlot. Frassanito’s triangulation of the bodies as they appeared in multiple photographs taken by Timothy O’Sullivan and the significant rock with a fissure highlighted his book: Gettysburg: A Journey in Time that also included the dead sharpshooter at Devil’s Den.
Is there a way of posting photos and illustrations in comments? My favorite is of my great-great-grandfather, taken the week he returned from the war in July 1865, after serving in the 67th Pennsylvania from December 1861 to beyond Appomattox. At 26 he is fit and strong – he was renowned for his physical strength – his face lean, his eyes fierce like a tiger’s, wearing a new suit of clothes in which he looks a little uncomfortable, his Colt’s Army .44 revolver bulging in a jacket pocket – he carried it with him everywhere he went until he passed in 1919 – his face exactly like his grandson’s, my grandfather, at 26, and exactly like mine at 26. His Captain wrote of him, “There was never a finer or truer soldier than Sergeant Mohney. He was always at his post and always done his duty.”
I’ve always been fond of the 1865 photograph of Sherman and his generals. Not only does it feature a collection of some of the Union’s most capable and fascinating commanders, but it also has an interesting story behind it. As the end of the war was being celebrated with the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, it decided to commemorate the day by taking a photograph of Sherman with some of his senior-most subordinates from the Military Division of the Mississippi. Originally, the photo was supposed to feature eight men: William T. Sherman, Oliver O. Howard, John A. Logan, William B. Hazen, Jefferson C. Davis, Henry W. Slocum, Joseph A. Mower, and Frank P. Blair Jr. While most of the generals arrived at Mathew Brady’s photography studio, Blair was running late and did not appear. Fearful of missing out on the opportunity to picture the gathering, it was decided to simply photograph the seven men present, giving us the more famous version of the photo. Later, however, an additional version was produced featuring Blair via the powers of Civil War era photo-editing.
Timothy O’Sullivan’s photograph of “Fugitive African Americans Fording the Rappahannock River.” It can be found on the Library of Congress website at: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666225/
I believe this is one of at least two shots taken at this location showing what appears to be a family coming into Union lines in the summer of 1862. To have sketches of these types of happenings is one thing, but seeing actual photographs that capture such truly amazing moments in time is priceless.
My favorite photo is the one of General Grant standing while leaning against a tree with his hand on his hip. The pose coupled with his facial expression reflects a tough, confident, self reliant commanding general.
Mine has to be one of the two images that the Library of Congress credits to Timothy O’Sullivan and showing a formerly enslaved family fording the Rappahannock River near present-day Remington. It is one thing to have sketches of refugees coming into Union lines, but to have a photograph is something particularly special. The one I am referring to is at: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666225/
O’Sullivan’s Devil Den photo of the dead Confederate soldier leaning against the rock tells the complete story of Civil War, fighting, dying, and abuses of war! Gardner’s series of photos of the execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators particular the one showing them hanging! The final culmination of four bloody long years!
I’ll second @Daniel Nettesheim’s vote for the famous photo of Grant at Cold Harbor and @Natalie Kruse’s for The Peacemakers, even if that’s a painting. However, my absolute photo is of Gen. George H. Thomas mounted on Billy, his favorite war horse whom he named after Gen. Sherman. The photo can be found here:
I apologize for my use of @s, I’m used to commenting on other Civil War research sites/forums, notably CivilWarTalk that allow you to “tag” fellow commenters to keep the connversation going.
I apologize for my use of the @, I’m used to dialoguing about the Civil War in threads on CivilWarTalk, within which I’m able to “tag” other users to keep the conversation going. I guess I’ll need to readjust my “style” for denoting agreement with other commenters on Emerging Civil War posts.
Glad you like the painting! Sherman commissioned artist George Peter Alexander Healy for the painting. Healy used Sherman’s historically accurate account of Grant who invited Lincoln down to see the end of the war and coincidentally Sherman visited Grant at that time. Porter was there in charge of the fleet. He showed each individual reacting to the moment how Lincoln the war to end peacefully! Up to that time in history rebellion/ revolutions ended in bloodbaths, guillotines, or hangings! I’ve seen the photo that the Smithsonian was allow to take of the painting and hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. The original large painting was destroyed and the smaller one has its own story how it ended up hanging in the Cabinet Room in the White House! A week after their meeting Porter takes Lincoln and his Tad to the docks of Richmond where does he famous walk through the burned out Capitol city to the Confederate White House.
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I’ll second @Daniel Nettesheim’s vote for the photo of Grant at Cold Harbor and @Natalie Kruse’s vote for the Peacemakers, even if the latter is a painting. However, my all-time favorite photo form the Civil War is Gen. George Thomas mounted on his horse, likely Billy, whom he named after Gen. Sherman. The photo in question can be found here:
What is your favorite photograph from the Civil War?
CSS Shenandoah undergoing repairs in Williamstown, Port of Melbourne, Australia January/February 1865. Exactly halfway round the world from Bermuda, this image illustrates how broad was the reach of America’s Civil War. Originally credited to The Age Newspaper, Melbourne, this photograph was later claimed by the U.S. Navy. This rendering care of americancivilwar.com https://americancivilwar.com/tcwn/civil_war/Navy_Ships/CSS_Shenandoah.html
My favorite photo is by Timothy O’Sullivan, of the dead Confederate sharpshooter in his sniper position in the Devil’s Den at Gettysburg. Not just for its dramatic or morbid features, but because it has sparked years of interesting debate.
First it was taken at face value. Then it was deemed staged, the body having been dragged yards from the soldier’s “true” site of death (an NPS photo allegedly shows the same soldier in a position 40 yards away) for dramatic effect by O’Sullivan. Then a counter-argument was advanced that O’Sullivan moved the body from the sniper position so that no competitor could replicate the dramatic position he found. Then there have been studies trying to identify the soldier.
It is the photo that launched countless arguments and theories. Great example of the types of debate and study that mark the study of the war.
The three Confederate prisoners at Gettysburg … one of the only pics taken of ANV soldiers in the field … taken by one of Matthew Brady’s team about two weeks after Gettysburg on Seminary Ridge looking east … the photographer didn’t identify the men so all we see are three lean, rock hard cases that have “the look”
The one of Sherman, Lincoln, Grant and Porter on the river boat.
I’m not sure if there is a photo of the City Point meeting of the four discussing the how Lincoln what’s the war to end aboard the River Queen! I think your referencing the painting called the Peacemaker! I really love that too! The four deep in discussion at a poignant time of the Civil War is awesome!
I like the one titled “General Grant and his General Staff” taken by Timothy O’Sullivan in 1864. It shows most of Grant’s staff sitting around outside, with Grant, underneath a couple of large trees. They appear to be intent on working out the details of upcoming efforts and battles.
Lincoln and McClellan in the tent shortly after Antietam. Awkward and uncomfortable for sure.
The photo of Lincoln’s second inaugural address in the Capital steps. Not knowing of course, that his assassin was in the crowd.
I’ll share with Mark’s reference to the photo of the three Confederates. It sorta looks as though they might be hanging out at the bus stop, waiting for a wagon to pick them up for their trip to the beach at Point Lookout.
But I’ll offer a Timothy O’Sullivan photograph, taken on May 4, 1864 at Germanna Ford. It’s the image of the Army of the Potomac crossing the Rapidan River and moving east into the Wilderness. The line of wagons bespeak of the enormous power of the Union force that is about to be unleashed during what we now refer to as the Overland Campaign. The photograph must have made an indelible impact upon Bruce Catton as he described the scene in “A Stillness at Appomattox” as “…the last bright morning” while paraphrasing Theodore Lyman’s reflection about identifying “…all of those who were never coming back.”
Tough choice, but one of my favorites to show people is “Petersburg, Virginia. Interior view of Fort Sedgwick,” Gives a great ground-but-not-quite-eye-level view of earthworks that have undergone long-term improvement.
The Confederate dead of Semmes’ brigade on the Rose Farm. It was the first amazing location discovery by Bill Frassanito at the Gettysburg battlefield. For many years it was labeled Union dead of the Iron Brigade at McPherson’s woodlot. Frassanito’s triangulation of the bodies as they appeared in multiple photographs taken by Timothy O’Sullivan and the significant rock with a fissure highlighted his book: Gettysburg: A Journey in Time that also included the dead sharpshooter at Devil’s Den.
Is there a way of posting photos and illustrations in comments? My favorite is of my great-great-grandfather, taken the week he returned from the war in July 1865, after serving in the 67th Pennsylvania from December 1861 to beyond Appomattox. At 26 he is fit and strong – he was renowned for his physical strength – his face lean, his eyes fierce like a tiger’s, wearing a new suit of clothes in which he looks a little uncomfortable, his Colt’s Army .44 revolver bulging in a jacket pocket – he carried it with him everywhere he went until he passed in 1919 – his face exactly like his grandson’s, my grandfather, at 26, and exactly like mine at 26. His Captain wrote of him, “There was never a finer or truer soldier than Sergeant Mohney. He was always at his post and always done his duty.”
I’ve always been fond of the 1865 photograph of Sherman and his generals. Not only does it feature a collection of some of the Union’s most capable and fascinating commanders, but it also has an interesting story behind it. As the end of the war was being celebrated with the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, it decided to commemorate the day by taking a photograph of Sherman with some of his senior-most subordinates from the Military Division of the Mississippi. Originally, the photo was supposed to feature eight men: William T. Sherman, Oliver O. Howard, John A. Logan, William B. Hazen, Jefferson C. Davis, Henry W. Slocum, Joseph A. Mower, and Frank P. Blair Jr. While most of the generals arrived at Mathew Brady’s photography studio, Blair was running late and did not appear. Fearful of missing out on the opportunity to picture the gathering, it was decided to simply photograph the seven men present, giving us the more famous version of the photo. Later, however, an additional version was produced featuring Blair via the powers of Civil War era photo-editing.
The Original Version:
https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpbh.03225/
The Re-Touched Version:
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/533374
Timothy O’Sullivan’s photograph of “Fugitive African Americans Fording the Rappahannock River.” It can be found on the Library of Congress website at: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666225/
I believe this is one of at least two shots taken at this location showing what appears to be a family coming into Union lines in the summer of 1862. To have sketches of these types of happenings is one thing, but seeing actual photographs that capture such truly amazing moments in time is priceless.
My favorite photo is the one of General Grant standing while leaning against a tree with his hand on his hip. The pose coupled with his facial expression reflects a tough, confident, self reliant commanding general.
Mine has to be one of the two images that the Library of Congress credits to Timothy O’Sullivan and showing a formerly enslaved family fording the Rappahannock River near present-day Remington. It is one thing to have sketches of refugees coming into Union lines, but to have a photograph is something particularly special. The one I am referring to is at: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666225/
O’Sullivan’s Devil Den photo of the dead Confederate soldier leaning against the rock tells the complete story of Civil War, fighting, dying, and abuses of war! Gardner’s series of photos of the execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators particular the one showing them hanging! The final culmination of four bloody long years!
I’ll second @Daniel Nettesheim’s vote for the famous photo of Grant at Cold Harbor and @Natalie Kruse’s for The Peacemakers, even if that’s a painting. However, my absolute photo is of Gen. George H. Thomas mounted on Billy, his favorite war horse whom he named after Gen. Sherman. The photo can be found here:
https://www.loc.gov/item/2013648715/
I apologize for my use of @s, I’m used to commenting on other Civil War research sites/forums, notably CivilWarTalk that allow you to “tag” fellow commenters to keep the connversation going.
I apologize for my use of the @, I’m used to dialoguing about the Civil War in threads on CivilWarTalk, within which I’m able to “tag” other users to keep the conversation going. I guess I’ll need to readjust my “style” for denoting agreement with other commenters on Emerging Civil War posts.
Glad you like the painting! Sherman commissioned artist George Peter Alexander Healy for the painting. Healy used Sherman’s historically accurate account of Grant who invited Lincoln down to see the end of the war and coincidentally Sherman visited Grant at that time. Porter was there in charge of the fleet. He showed each individual reacting to the moment how Lincoln the war to end peacefully! Up to that time in history rebellion/ revolutions ended in bloodbaths, guillotines, or hangings! I’ve seen the photo that the Smithsonian was allow to take of the painting and hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. The original large painting was destroyed and the smaller one has its own story how it ended up hanging in the Cabinet Room in the White House! A week after their meeting Porter takes Lincoln and his Tad to the docks of Richmond where does he famous walk through the burned out Capitol city to the Confederate White House.
I’ll second @Daniel Nettesheim’s vote for the photo of Grant at Cold Harbor and @Natalie Kruse’s vote for the Peacemakers, even if the latter is a painting. However, my all-time favorite photo form the Civil War is Gen. George Thomas mounted on his horse, likely Billy, whom he named after Gen. Sherman. The photo in question can be found here:
https://www.loc.gov/item/2013648715/