GRAPHIC Union Dead on Battlefield at First Bull Run

I believe this was staged later....

hence the overcoat on the federal...I don't think there are any CW casualty photos until the corinth ones in early 62. I may be mistaken though
 
I believe this was staged later....

hence the overcoat on the federal...I don't think there are any CW casualty photos until the corinth ones in early 62. I may be mistaken though

Agreed - every report I recall reading of the battle mentioned the stiffling heat, so the overcoat is definately out of place.
 
Lots of foliage too for greatcoat season.

Look at the farb with his pants tucked in his socks.



After looking again, these "dead" sure do look comfortable. The two in the back left are peacefully on their backs like they are sleeping and the guy in the foreground is in a sleeping like position. I think its staged.
 
Forefront soldier have a hole in his shoe?

Surprised at faded blue in back on left and darker blue in the middle.
 
Zuzah -

First very nice. I really like the trees and foliage. Your outdoor images have improved a lot.

But...you did ask for comments, so, just a few.

I'm not sure about this being Union dead. When I looked up the image I found it at the LOC here and here as well as a internet reference to it here. Most of the references indicate that it was Confederate dead. There also seems to be some differences as to if this was First or Second Bull Run (Manassas), but that is a different issue.

The LOC says it was used by William Frassanito in his book: "Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day". I don't have a copy of that, wonder if anyone here does, according to the LOC, comments on pg. 30-32. The reason I mention this is: Why would Frass use an image from Bull Run (especially 1st Bull Run) in a book about Antietam? Was he saying that this was an Antietam image? Hopefully someone has the book and can shed some light.

Now about the colorization itself. Like I said, overall really nice, especially the trees. I do have some issues with the ground. Regardless if it was First/Second Bull Run (Manassas) it would have been summer time and the foliage on the trees looks right for that. To me the ground however looks more like something from Autumn. There does seem to be some "over spray" of color from the ground onto the bodies, which gives a odd color cast to some of them.

Don't be too critical on yourself about the image though, I think most of the issues are historical on when and where was this actually taken. First Bull Run really seems odd, since the Confederates kept the battlefield for six months, so very difficult to get any pictures. Also, I do not recall ever hearing of images of the dead during the first year of the war. I had thought that the first ones taken were done at Antietam (so after 2nd Bull Run).
 
Zuzah -

First very nice. I really like the trees and foliage. Your outdoor images have improved a lot.

But...you did ask for comments, so, just a few.

I'm not sure about this being Union dead. When I looked up the image I found it at the LOC here and here as well as a internet reference to it here. Most of the references indicate that it was Confederate dead. There also seems to be some differences as to if this was First or Second Bull Run (Manassas), but that is a different issue.

The LOC says it was used by William Frassanito in his book: "Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day". I don't have a copy of that, wonder if anyone here does, according to the LOC, comments on pg. 30-32. The reason I mention this is: Why would Frass use an image from Bull Run (especially 1st Bull Run) in a book about Antietam? Was he saying that this was an Antietam image? Hopefully someone has the book and can shed some light.

Now about the colorization itself. Like I said, overall really nice, especially the trees. I do have some issues with the ground. Regardless if it was First/Second Bull Run (Manassas) it would have been summer time and the foliage on the trees looks right for that. To me the ground however looks more like something from Autumn. There does seem to be some "over spray" of color from the ground onto the bodies, which gives a odd color cast to some of them.

Don't be too critical on yourself about the image though, I think most of the issues are historical on when and where was this actually taken. First Bull Run really seems odd, since the Confederates kept the battlefield for six months, so very difficult to get any pictures. Also, I do not recall ever hearing of images of the dead during the first year of the war. I had thought that the first ones taken were done at Antietam (so after 2nd Bull Run).
The overcast was intentional, although I might've exaggerated it.

Yeah, I jumped the gun on the 'Union' part, I downloaded the image labeled 'Dead on Battlefield at 1st Bull Run' or something similar, and I mislabeled it - Not just here, but elsewhere, lol. Yes, it's definitely not from 1st Bull Run, I argued with a user on Reddit and the first verfiable 'death' photograph I was able to find was definitely from Antietam, as you mention. I don't know if it is from Antietam aswell, don't know who'd be able to shed some light on that.

What I do know, though, is that I couldn't get the grass to look right any other way, and you know this - It looked too 'off'.
 
Interesting discussion. I, too, initially thought it could not be 1st Manassas. (I don't recall such a stand of trees while there.)

We very often find photos that are mislabelled. Fortunately, we have people who catch and dispute such. (I'm not one of them, but appreciate the nit-picking.)
 
Body back left- seems to be lying on a stretcher.
Body Mid back- seems bloated with a strange shaped head.
Body back right- is lying in a very strange position. In fact only looks like half a body !
Body front - I can see some weird images in front of left boot. Anyone else see that ?
 
Body back left- seems to be lying on a stretcher.
Body Mid back- seems bloated with a strange shaped head.
Body back right- is lying in a very strange position. In fact only looks like half a body !
Body front - I can see some weird images in front of left boot. Anyone else see that ?
I can see that I forgot to colorize the hands and head of the guy in the back left, he's definitely there.
 
Zuzah -

First very nice. I really like the trees and foliage. Your outdoor images have improved a lot.

But...you did ask for comments, so, just a few.

I'm not sure about this being Union dead. When I looked up the image I found it at the LOC here and here as well as a internet reference to it here. Most of the references indicate that it was Confederate dead. There also seems to be some differences as to if this was First or Second Bull Run (Manassas), but that is a different issue.

The LOC says it was used by William Frassanito in his book: "Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day". I don't have a copy of that, wonder if anyone here does, according to the LOC, comments on pg. 30-32. The reason I mention this is: Why would Frass use an image from Bull Run (especially 1st Bull Run) in a book about Antietam? Was he saying that this was an Antietam image? Hopefully someone has the book and can shed some light.

Now about the colorization itself. Like I said, overall really nice, especially the trees. I do have some issues with the ground. Regardless if it was First/Second Bull Run (Manassas) it would have been summer time and the foliage on the trees looks right for that. To me the ground however looks more like something from Autumn. There does seem to be some "over spray" of color from the ground onto the bodies, which gives a odd color cast to some of them.

Don't be too critical on yourself about the image though, I think most of the issues are historical on when and where was this actually taken. First Bull Run really seems odd, since the Confederates kept the battlefield for six months, so very difficult to get any pictures. Also, I do not recall ever hearing of images of the dead during the first year of the war. I had thought that the first ones taken were done at Antietam (so after 2nd Bull Run).

I do not have my copy of William Frassanito's book in front of me at the moment but you are correct. He did use this photo in his book. This photo of these four dead bodies has long been identified as Rebels and usually on the Bull Run battlefield. Mr. Frassanito pointed out that the man closest to the camera is wearing an overcoat which would not make sense in July 1861. He contended that it was more likely a staged photograph made after the Confederates retreated from the Manassas area sometime after winter/spring of 1862. As I recall he alluded that this either was or could be a Matthew Brady photograph. He further explained the chance that Mr. Brady would be allowed to remain behind and capture such an image while most northern civilians ran back to Washington with the army is not likely. In fact my recollection is that Mr. Frassanito stated that it was a well known fact that Matthew Brady made his way back to Washington about the same time as the army.

In the book Mr. Frassanito also included a photocopy of these four men in the same place alive and well going through the different stages of loading their rifles. He only had a photocopy because the original negative or plate was lost when he went back to look at it again at the LOC. The chance that these four men were photographed by Brady or any photographer during a battle and that all four were soon thereafter killed is highly debatable.

If I have time and no one beats me to it I will scan and post the picture tonight.
 
I do not have my copy of William Frassanito's book in front of me at the moment but you are correct. He did use this photo in his book. This photo of these four dead bodies has long been identified as Rebels and usually on the Bull Run battlefield. Mr. Frassanito pointed out that the man closest to the camera is wearing an overcoat which would not make sense in July 1861. He contended that it was more likely a staged photograph made after the Confederates retreated from the Manassas area sometime after winter/spring of 1862. As I recall he alluded that this either was or could be a Matthew Brady photograph. He further explained the chance that Mr. Brady would be allowed to remain behind and capture such an image while most northern civilians ran back to Washington with the army is not likely. In fact my recollection is that Mr. Frassanito stated that it was a well known fact that Matthew Brady made his way back to Washington about the same time as the army.

In the book Mr. Frassanito also included a photocopy of these four men in the same place alive and well going through the different stages of loading their rifles. He only had a photocopy because the original negative or plate was lost when he went back to look at it again at the LOC. The chance that these four men were photographed by Brady or any photographer during a battle and that all four were soon thereafter killed is highly debatable.

If I have time and no one beats me to it I will scan and post the picture tonight.

Thanks so much for the answer. I knew that someone on this forum would have that book. I could kick myself that when I met him a few years ago I only bought his Gettysburg: Journey in time book. He had all of his books with him it would have been great to have a complete autographed set.

Yes, please post the image when you get the chance, would love to see it.

Here is an image of Brady when he returned from Bull Run:

4a40924r.jpg
 
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