Robert Gray
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
Part of the Federal line of earthworks showing bombproof quarters occupied by U.S. Colored Troops in front of Petersburg, Va., August 7, 1864. Photos by Timothy H. O'Sullivan.(Library of Congress)
If you go to the LOC site, you can blow the photographs up and see incredible detail, it is obvious from looking at the photo in detail that the photographer staged some of the scene. There is a group of soldiers in light marching order with bayonets fixed pointing towards the front, one is actually aiming his musket towards the front. This is basically a camp scene, with the front line farther away where the trenches are located. No doubt O'Sullivan wanted the public to think these were the front lines. I can't say for sure, but the area in the third picture appears to be a latrine/sinks.I have never seen these pictures before. Good find. It looks as if many of the men are listening or watching some firefight further up and closer to the front. Really neat pictures. Thanks,
Lubliner.
My point being that O’Sullivan was trying to make people believe that these pictures were actually the front lines. They are actually bomb-proof sleeping quarters and the front is farther away and certainly not safe enough to set up a camera.@Package4 I did notice in the second picture the man sitting on the bridge, which looks like one of O'Sullivan's assistants. In your two posts, the first you say is a staged camp scene some distance away from the front. The second post sounds as though that same scene is close to the crater. Wouldn't this be close to the front lines at that time?
Thanks,
Lubliner.
@Package4 I did notice in the second picture the man sitting on the bridge, which looks like one of O'Sullivan's assistants. In your two posts, the first you say is a staged camp scene some distance away from the front. The second post sounds as though that same scene is close to the crater. Wouldn't this be close to the front lines at that time?
Thanks,
Lubliner.