Confederates Before A Union Camera

[USS ALASKA]

http://thecivilwarparlor.tumblr.com/image/61774626851

Confederates Before A Union Camera~

The single known instance in which the Union photographers succeeded in getting a near view of the Confederate troops.

Near the end of the railroad bridge in Fredericksburg a view of the men in Lee's army. The photo represents one of only two instances in which a Northern artist photographed as his subjects non-captive Confederate soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia in the field. (The other instance involved Confederates marching through Frederick, Maryland.) photographer – Captain Andrew J. Russell of the United States Military Railroads. (At least one historian has suggested that the photographer may have been Egbert Fowx, Russell's mentor).

http://thecivilwarparlor.tumblr.com/post/61774626851/confederates-before-a-union-camera-the-single

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Edit: The Confederate officer standing across the bridge is ID'd as Captain Andrew R. Govan, Company B, 17th Mississippi Infantry, Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade.

More info here: https://npsfrsp.wordpress.com/2013/...oad-bridge-150-years-later-an-identification/

 

[Michael W.]

Love this photograph, thanks for sharing.

 

[RobertP]

Much more about this photograph from an earlier thread. Capt. Govan was in command of Co. B, 17 th Miss. at the time.


https://civilwartalk.com/threads/brig-gen-daniel-c-govan-born-this-day-in-july-4-1829.125604/

 

[Tut11]

Nice, thanks Alaska!

 

[captaindrew]

This is a great photo and a good and rare look at Confederates in the field

 

[redbob]

To me, this is one of the most amazing pictures of the Civil War and without a doubt; my favorite.

 

[Ole Miss]

RobertP
First time ever I was right.
Regards
David

 

[GELongstreet]

I´m not sure about the location, but in the upper right corner appears to be, on an elevated position, a single house and what could be a stone wall or low fence on the right of it. Anybody knowing where that is? Or having a high-res version of the picture?

 

[RobertP]

I´m not sure about the location, but in the upper right corner appears to be, on an elevated position, a single house and what could be a stone wall or low fence on the right of it. Anybody knowing where that is? Or having a high-res version of the picture?

The railroad bridge at Fredricksburg.

 

[GELongstreet]

The railroad bridge at Fredricksburg.

Sorry, it seems I formulated it a little unclear: I meant the location of the house and potential wall or whatever that is in the background.

 

[RobertP]

Sorry, it seems I formulated it a little unclear: I meant the location of the house and potential wall or whatever that is in the background.

Here is another contemporary photo. You can see the mill building and destroyed bridge, and town center upstream to right.

 

[AUG]

Close up

This version might be a bit sharper

 

[Logan Guard]

I never noticed the two men in the window before. I have always loved this photograph.

 

[SWMODave]

Anyone notice the photo bombers?

Also, to help understand the background, this site has done an amazing job analyzing old Fredericksburg photo's and identifying landmarks

This is showing locations of a Washington Artillery battery

Mercer Square Blog

My favorite "in perspective" photo for this battle, showing the Heights behind the city is from an old book called Poetry and Eloquence of the Blue and Gray.

Whether you buy the "during the battle" comment or not, the May 3rd battle would have been the battle here while the main bodies of both armies were fighting at Chancellorsville.

Also not sure who the Review of Reviews Co was and how they got a hold of this photograph reportedly taken by a military photographer, but they also published a magazine in the early 1900's and I have yet to review them for any other hidden "gems".

 

[Ole Miss]

Amazing how life goes in circles! I live 30 miles from Hillcrest Cemetery in Holly Springs, Mississippi and have never visited the site. The next afternoon when I am not busy I will make a jaunt up there and pay my respects to Captain Govan.
Regards
CDavid

 

[Championhilz]

"The town of Fredericksburg, once so lively, gay and brilliant, presents a sad spectacle today to all save those who love to wander in deserted and melancholy places. Not a lady can you see to cheer you with her smiles, for all, all have fled, to escape the terrors with which the brave (!) enemy ever marks his footsteps." - Solon L. Whittington, Company B, 17th Mississippi Infantry, December 4, 1862.

 

[ikesdad]

One wonders what words were spoken across in order to get those boys to stay still for the yankee picture.

 

[USS ALASKA]

I wonder about the conversation that took place to get this set up...

"Hey, you on the far left! Turn around and pull your pants up! And you 3rd from the right - I know what that finger means! Very cute...come on guys, can't we just get along..."

Maybe we need to use this as a 'Caption Contest' photo.

Wow - beat me to it...

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[AUG]

Here's a sketch by Alfred R. Waud of Union troops exchanging salutations with Rebs across the same bridge.

https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.21032/

 

[AUG]

Wow! Just found that the other photo of Capt. Govan is in The Photographic History of the Civil War, vol. 9: https://archive.org/stream/photographichist09mill#page/194/mode/2up