Courage in the Cornfield at Antietam
At Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862, an awful moment occurred when heavy Confederate artillery fire from the vicinity of the Dunker Church greeted the 90th Pennsylvania Infantry as it
Category: 2016 Spring
The Great Outdoors: Civil War Soldiers at Work, Rest and Play
Images of soldiers pictured in camp, on campaign and other locations have always held a special interest for C. Paul Loane. “There is more going on than just the soldiers
Soldier or Civilian?
One finds it difficult to discern whether the subject of this portrait is a soldier or a civilian. The pattern 1839 fatigue cap, worn at a jaunty angle, and the
The Hidden Power of Microhistories
The rare tintypes of Jefferson and Varina Davis showcased in this issue share much in common with the portraits MI has long featured for its readers. Since 1979, we’ve published
On the Eve of War: Previously Unknown Portraits of Jefferson and Varina Davis Come to Light
By John O’Brien In Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21, 1861, Jefferson Davis stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate and bid farewell to his colleagues. Two weeks earlier, his
The Absolute Truth of Photos
By William C. Davis Back in 1976 when we celebrated the Bicentennial of our declaration of independence from Britain, I was often asked why it was that during the ensuing
On the Eve of a Crossroads
By Joan E. Cashin These photographs capture perfectly the dilemmas of Jefferson Davis and Varina Howell Davis in early 1861. Soon, they would depart Washington, D.C., where they had lived
Held Hostage in Virginia: A Union Captain Becomes a Casualty in a Battle of Wits Between Jefferson Davis and John Pope
By Scott Valentine Union Capt. Samuel Miller Quincy realized that something had gone horribly wrong during the early part of the Battle of Cedar Mountain on Aug. 9, 1862. The
Words Exchanged in an Ambulance
By Ronald S. Coddington A multitude of field hospitals popped up in the wake of the unprecedented fighting in Virginia during the spring campaign of 1864. A constant stream of