Many Soldiers, Two Bridges One Pole

[JPK Huson 1863]

North Anna where Hancock's 2nd Corp crossed- somehow. There's another small pontoon bridge in the background but all these men seem to prefer the rickety looking plank bridge in the fore. BEST part of the photograph is single soldier, right foreground completely and utterly absorbed in what is transpiring on the other end of a good, old-fashioned, pre-war fishing pole. What soldiers, what war, what photographer?

We've had other ' Gone Fishin' photos members have brought here- love them! Just something about the men taking the chance to occupy themselves fishing in the middle of a war, hopefully break up army food, get back to life as it should be, I find these scenes delightful.

 

[mt155]

I went to the CWT Conference last month in Richmond and took a tour called "To the North Anna" lead by none other than Gordon Rhea. We went to this spot. I have picks but have not edited them for the web. I'll post them when I get to them. Rhea was an excellent tour guide.

 

[John Hartwell]

The job of that group on the bridge is known as "the heavy lookin-on." If the fisherman catches anything, I expect he'll have plenty of help carrying it back to camp.

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[AUG]

Here's a higher res version. Good view of the typical soldier in the Army of the Potomac.

 

[donna]

Wonderful photo.

 

[kholland]

View attachment 64793

North Anna where Hancock's 2nd Corp crossed- somehow. There's another small pontoon bridge in the background but all these men seem to prefer the rickety looking plank bridge in the fore. BEST part of the photograph is single soldier, right foreground completely and utterly absorbed in what is transpiring on the other end of a good, old-fashioned, pre-war fishing pole. What soldiers, what war, what photographer?

We've had other ' Gone Fishin' photos members have brought here- love them! Just something about the men taking the chance to occupy themselves fishing in the middle of a war, hopefully break up army food, get back to life as it should be, I find these scenes delightful.

Great photo!

 

[Blessmag]

Focus on the background. Looks like a man or two on a dock. Our photo wizards could blow up the background for us. (or not)

 

[sflickinger]

Focus on the background. Looks like a man or two on a dock. Our photo wizards could blow up the background for us. (or not)

I congratulate you on your observation. My GG-grandfather was a Pioneer and built bridges like these, often under fire. I suspect the pontoon bridge isn't finished and the soldiers, being Americans, are making the best of the situation. I agree, these are great photos. I remember being in Vietnam and sitting around drinking beer, while off duty, oblivious to anything going on around us. It was probably because we were drunk.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, it's a small pontoon bridge- Hancock's corp somehow managed to get across that thing, can you imagine how long it took? The engineers knew what they were doing. It would have been safe enough, just a lengthy process for an army to pass over. Still, better than marching an entire army, wagons, infantry, guns and all down a bank, through a river and up the other bank.