“Bombs Bursting in Air”
A cannonball at the feet of this federal would have been filled with an exploding charge and capped with a fuse in the visible hole. This type of ammunition illustrates
Recent Stories
What to Do When Gold Standards Go Wrong
By Kurt Luther In photo sleuthing, most of us strive to set a high bar for what constitutes sufficiently strong evidence to identify an unknown soldier portrait. The gold standard
The Defier and other Union archetypes by a master lensman
By Jim Frasca These uniquely, thoughtfully posed Civil War cartes de visite were taken by lensman Frank Rowell of Providence, R.I., a refreshingly innovative photographer whose contributions to the art
Blue & Gray Badges of Courage: Representative images from the Kevin Canberg Collection
Kevin Canberg’s journey as a collector began with an unusual Father’s Day gift for his dad—a vintage fireman’s badge from Brooklyn, N.Y. It was perfect for his father, a Brooklyn
A New Era in Photo Sleuthing Begins
By Kurt Luther On Aug. 1, 2018, we celebrated the public launch of Civil War Photo Sleuth, a free website that we hope will forever change the face of Civil
Introducing The Citizenry
Over the years, we’ve highlighted photographs of individuals from the Civil War period who did not formally serve in the military. They include servants to soldiers, women who supported the
Dressed to Kill, a Zouave, and a U.S. Colored Infantryman
Dressed to kill, this sergeant is armed with a Model 1840 non-commissioned officer’s sword and Savage revolver. Of interest is the oval plate on his shoulder belt: Rather than the
Bearskin and Brass: A Stylish Bay Stater
At first glance, the mammoth bearskin cap parked on the table next to this soldier is an attention-grabber. Though the name of its wearer is currently lost in time, the
The Rich History of a Fort in Soldier Portraits
The list of officers who passed through Michigan’s Fort Mackinac in antebellum times on their way to becoming Civil War generals might surprise you. On the Union side, Edwin Vose
A Very Creditable Affair
Capt. Adam Kramer and his battalion of cavalrymen mounted up and raced through the North Carolina countryside on the evening of April 10, 1865. Their mission: cut off the retreat