A Fresh, Exciting Look at Battlefield Images
Battlefield photographs created by the teams of Mathew B. Brady and Alexander Gardner have shaped American memory since the earliest part of the Civil War. These haunting images brought home the grim realities of conflict to citizens far removed from the front lines. Reproduced countless times over the past 160-plus years, they continue to resonate with students of the war and the broader public alike.
In the 1970s, groundbreaking scholarship by William Frassanito inspired a new generation of Americans on a journey in time to Gettysburg and Antietam in search of the exact locations where these photographs had been made. His work transformed battlefield photography into a deeper investigative pursuit.
A half-century later, a new volume may well inspire the current generation in much the same way. Civil War Photo Forensics: Investigating Battlefield Photographs Through a Critical Lens takes readers on a fascinating journey to better understand the motivations, methods, and circumstances behind the making of these iconic images. Its author, Scott Hippensteel, a professor of earth sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, works at the intersection of natural and military sciences. He brings modern scientific methods, the eye of a keen observer, and a healthy dose of curiosity to the blurred lines between art, documentation, and the emerging field of photojournalism.
Hippensteel challenges readers to think critically about familiar images through forensic examinations, supported by a robust history of the photographers and their movements in the field. Noteworthy visuals include a timeline tracing Brady and Gardner’s wartime coverage and a section ranking the 25 most popular battlefield photographs of all time, complete with scaled visual comparisons and close analysis of the top five selections.
The University of Tennessee Press has produced a handsome horizontal-format hardcover volume on matte-finish paper with superb printing that honors the original images.
This is an important contribution to Civil War scholarship and a highly recommended read.
Civil War Photo Forensics: Investigating Battlefield Photographs Through a Critical Lens
By Scott Hippensteel
214 pages
University of Tennessee Press
Hardcover
Regimental Storytelling on a Grand Scale
Fortunate are the Civil War regiments with modern-day champions who labor tirelessly to preserve the memory of their service and sacrifice. One such unit is the 14th New York State Militia, popularly known as the 14th Brooklyn—hard-fighting Empire State men who participated in some of the war’s most momentous engagements, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the bloody battles of the Overland Campaign.
Its champion is James L. McLean, Jr.
Many students of the Civil War will recall McLean as the co-owner, with his wife Judy, of Butternut and Blue, the respected bookselling and publishing enterprise responsible for nearly 100 titles between 1983 and 2016. He is also the driving force behind an ambitious trilogy devoted to the 14th Brooklyn. The first volume, “Baptized by Fire”—From Bull Run to Bull Run, April 1861-August 1862, is now available.
McLean’s depth of knowledge, informed by decades of research, is evident from the opening chapter. He reveals in-depth details about the nattily dressed “Red Legged Devils” in their Zouave- and Chasseur-inspired uniforms while placing the regiment’s movements, operations, and combat experience within the larger context of the war.
This is regimental history on a grand scale—ambitious storytelling that vividly brings to life both the soldiers of the 14th Brooklyn and the turbulent era through which they marched, fought, and sacrificed for the United States.
The book is illustrated with portraits, maps, and other period images that vary in print quality.
Printed on fine matte-finish paper in hardcover with a glossy dust jacket, the production values suggest publisher Savas Beatie believes strongly in the success of this projected trilogy.
At the time of this writing, signed author proof copies are available directly from the publisher. The book is a worthy addition to your library.
The 14th New York State Militia in the Civil War Volume 1: Baptized by Fire from Bull Run to Bull Run, April 1861-August 1862
By James L. McLean, Jr.
512 pages
Savas Beatie
Hardcover
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