Civil War photographs

[101combatvet]

I was doing a little research for a presentation and found this site of Civil War photographs. Have a look... I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war-index-005.htm

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear 101CombatVet;

Excellent site sir! Wonderful photographs and some you don't see too often.

Thank you very much sir! Much appreciated!

Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf

 

[101combatvet]

I'm glad you enjoyed them.... they really did a great job scanning those images.

 

[Glorybound]

101, that's a very good site. Thanks for posting the link. I've seen many of the photos before but there are a few that I haven't seen, one that drew my attention immediately. On the first page the dead Confederate lying in the trench at Petersburg. It's an amazing photo in that the subject hasn't been "prepared" or posed by the photographer, as many of the dead were in that war (like the other dead Rebel on the same page).

The subject looks as though he could be in the same position as the one in which he died. Mud has covered his right foot, possibly rain occurred shortly after his death maybe? A photographer of those days, prone to pose his subject, I doubt would have positioned him in that particular pose, so I got a sense of this soldier taking his last breath just as he is. I could be all wrong on my evaluation, but the photo evoked a strong reaction, almost a jolt, from within, that would not have occurred had I sensed any type of staging or posing of the corpse. The scene could have been staged I suppose, but I don't think it was.

It brings home to the viewer what war is all about, especially that war. Knowing the soldier was American, probably from the south, and died in the mud is about all I know from the photo. It's very evident what happens when diplomacy fails, showing the result when men pass up the opportunity to project the "better angels of our nature", and rush ahead full steam, consequences be d a m n e d.
Did his kin see this photo, and would they recognize him if they did, I wonder? It's a long way from that muddy trench to an undertaker's parlor and being neatly laid out in a coffin.

Very powerful picture and one I might not have seen unless I had stumbled across the link myself. Thanks again for posting it.


Lee

 

[ole]

Some more introspective to relieve the intense discussions. Like Buzzard's new thread, this one grants some respite and reflection we can all enjoy.

Ole

 

[diddyriddick]

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[lauren777]

I'm still looking through them! I've never seen so many wonderful pictures in one place! I hope they never end. I love the picture of the union soldiers throwing the 'black child' in the air! Also the image of the federal wagon train going into Petersburg was terrific. I always wondered what that would have looked like and it was great to see the never-ending line as it was. I can't imagine how scary it was for locals to see those miles and miles of soldiers, livestock, wagons, and horses with heavy artillery. Too many great ones to mention! Thanks for posting!

Lauren

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Lauren777;

What wonderful pictures that 101CombatVet linked us to for sure!

Have you seen the photo of what a shell did to a Confederate?

Certainly wait until you have digested a meal

In many cases there were missing body parts from head to toes and all in between, from shells.

In researching First Bull Run's Marine 2nd Lt. Hitchcock; he was decapitated and the second shell tore his torso in half; within seconds of each other. A soldier reaching to the falling Lieutenant had his arm torn off.

This American Civil War would be the first war to be photographed. Previously, the photo process was not good enough to handle the capture and development of photos. So, most times artists would draw what they saw and or what the reports told (artist license).

I think, personally--this was the first time a bit of the romance of war, was smashed into a huge dose of reality.

Just some thoughts.


Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[lauren777]

Dear Lauren777;

What wonderful pictures that 101CombatVet linked us to for sure!

Have you seen the photo of what a shell did to a Confederate?

Certainly wait until you have digested a meal

In many cases there were missing body parts from head to toes and all in between, from shells.

In researching First Bull Run's Marine 2nd Lt. Hitchcock; he was decapitated and the second shell tore his torso in half; within seconds of each other. A soldier reaching to the falling Lieutenant had his arm torn off.

This American Civil War would be the first war to be photographed. Previously, the photo process was not good enough to handle the capture and development of photos. So, most times artists would draw what they saw and or what the reports told (artist license).

I think, personally--this was the first time a bit of the romance of war, was smashed into a huge dose of reality.

Just some thoughts.


Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

Yes I saw that picture and it was rather eye opening. I try to look very closely at most of those fallen soldiers pictures to see if I can see any wounds. This is a guess but in many of them it looks as if the photographer may have placed them so you don't see their wounds. Has anyone else suspected this? Sometimes I notice a piece of fabric strewn across an odd place here and there. The picture of the shell damage and another one on that site where you can see a head wound are the only two that I've seen a wound showing. It made me wonder if there was a little discretion to the photos out of respect. I wish there were more of those battlefield photos so one can get a grasp of the numbers lost. I always felt that the battlefield photos didn't really reflect the numbers accurately.

I would love to hear from anyone that looks at the photos which photo speaks to them most and describe why it stands out. This is the stuff I love about the civil war. How it speaks to us from photos and letters.

CARPE DIEM!!...lol

Lauren

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Lauren777;

Personal opinion only but, I am of the belief in the beginning--the photographs were carefully bland as not to be extremely shocking.

But, as these traveling photographers went through the years; I think they got as numb as did the soldiers they followed.

Unfortunately, we don't have notes to say how far away the shot came from, etc., those little forensic details I keep seeking. LOL

But, I have seen other deaths...some murders, suicides, accidents and the like; and sometimes people look posed but; just happened to rest in that position. Depending on the weapon used in the crime scenes I've gone to, can leave a tiny mark or a gap you can put your two fists into.
Police archives of homicides was a venture per se. One homicide was caused by an ice pick driven into the ear into the brain. Autopsy and keen eyes saw the little drop of blood in the ear.

But, war is never neat or tidy. And, with different dignity standards; it might be possible that they did alter their subjects as to be viewed with respects.

Just like the practice in autopsies to cover the body in a sheet.. the dead one doesn't care really but, I think our (in a general sense) sense of respect and dignity for the person(s) dead or alive--rules.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[mt155]

Great site. Thanks for posting. I can never get enough of old pics.

 

[diddyriddick]

I would love to hear from anyone that looks at the photos which photo speaks to them most and describe why it stands out. This is the stuff I love about the civil war. How it speaks to us from photos and letters.

CARPE DIEM!!...lol

Lauren

Here you go. I'll let the pic speak for itself.

http://www.old-picture.com/civil-war/Battlefield-Harbor-Cold.htm

 

[diddyriddick]

As an aside, we've heard repeatedly about the lack of gear that the Confederates experienced. Shoes in particular are cited as having been lacking-Every Corpse in these pics had shoes on.

Any thoughts?

 

[M E Wolf]

Dear Diddyriddick;

I am of the opinion that they had their shoes on for the photograph and a sense of respect for the dead but, as soon as the camera was gone--so were all articles of clothing that could be used as to comfort another live being.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

 

[diddyriddick]

Dear Diddyriddick;

I am of the opinion that they had their shoes on for the photograph and a sense of respect for the dead but, as soon as the camera was gone--so were all articles of clothing that could be used as to comfort another live being.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

Thats more than a little creepy.