JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
" The Union & Rebel officers taking the last drink after signing the papers (?) of parole and exchange of prisoners, Goodbye " Arthur Lumley, Fredericksburg, for Frank Leslie's Illustrated News
Full image, LoC
Crazy good image of one of those moments frequently encountered during the war. We all know what Fredericksburg was, the slaughter, the awful graves, wounded past counting. Supposedly these civilized observances in the midst of horrifying chaos became unknown as war ground on- not so sure. IMO, made us more susceptible to a search for who we'd left behind, the human bond buried in shambles.
" Scene on the beach, Fredericksburg, VA, Friday " , snipped from the drawing's top. " Flag of Truce ", easy enough to view Arthur's sketch in your mind's eye as a photograph.
Arthur Lumley was a Dublin born, Irish immigrant. After studying at National Academy of Design Lumley for both Harper's and Frank Leslie; it was Frank Leslie who sent him to war. @Pat Young , the Irish Civil War site has a page on Lumley- couldn't get it to open. Crazy good immigrant story.
Can find nothing about this moment Lumley captured so stunningly. No can convince me it's mere tradition- for all the documented stories of compassionate contact during truces, pretty convinced there were hundreds more. If anyone knows, or can find who these men were, love to know more. Prisoners were captured by the dozens, Lumley captured who we knew we were.