A New Book Celebrates the Carte de Visite
Since their debut in the mid-1850s, paper cartes de visite have been largely relegated by critics to a secondary status behind the earlier, commercially successful photographs on silver, glass, and
Author: MI Digital
Identifying a USCT Officer Connected to Two Pioneering Civil War Women
By Kurt Luther When MI Senior Editor Rick Carlile approached me to help identify a carte de visite of a seemingly unremarkable Union officer, I did not expect that this
A Pre-Civil War Sailor
The sailor in this image wears a white cotton warm weather frock with blue “nankin” collar and bib bordered with three strips of white trim. The blue bib suggests this
A Modest Iron Man
A writer visiting Arlington National Cemetery in the late 19th century noted Civil War veterans paying tribute at the memorial to Maj. Gen. James Brewerton Ricketts. “No more daring or
A Routine Day Ends With A Medal of Honor Act
Captain George Newman Bliss expected a routine day on Sept. 28, 1864. A large cavalry force, including his troopers in the 1st Rhode Island, rode through Waynesboro, Va., to water
Disability Presented New Challenges
By Elizabeth A. Topping When we think of people with physical disabilities during the Civil War period, we tend to bring to mind images of soldiers. Surgeons performed a staggering
Twin Lady Howitzers of the 5th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry
By Phil Spaugy, featuring images from The Liljenquist Family Collection at the Library of Congress A unique group of images depict the veteran horse soldiers of the 5th Ohio Volunteer
Fort Donelson: Early turning point of the Civil War
By John Walsh, featuring images from the author’s collection The triumph by U.S. forces at Fort Donelson in early February 1862 dramatically turned the tide of the Civil War, then
One Vacant Chair: Photographs of a Michigan family remind us of loss and sacrifice
By Paul Russinoff The lyrics from a touching song spoke to the grief suffered by hundreds of thousands of families during the Civil War: “We shall meet, but we shall
Man-of-War Men: A gallery of naval photographic portraits
By Ron Field, featuring images from the author’s collection Naval images of the Civil War period conjure an association with salty sea air and westerly winds when beholding a view