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
Tag: union
“Pass Those Colors Over to Me”
There came a moment during the fight at Five Forks when federal Sgt. Robert Shipley ran across a rebel color bearer from the 9th Virginia Infantry. The Confederate, with banner
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
Wed by the “Famous Fighting Methodist Preacher”
One spring day in 1864, John W. Widney and Mary A. Fitzwater Brown were married in Orange, Ohio. The newlyweds were accompanied by John’s mother, Eliza, and Mary’s brother, John.
Non-Traditional Research Tools—and Serendipity
By Kurt Luther Photo sleuthing fundamentally pieces together bits of evidence to build a theory. For especially tricky images, these pieces of the puzzle may come from a wide variety
Men of the Military Telegraph Service
By Michael J. McAfee Organized out of wartime necessity in 1861, the Military Telegraph Service was a contract agency of the Quartermaster Department rather than the Signal Corps. It served
Memento of a Senseless Death: The portrait of a surgeon recalls a wartime murder
By Daniel R. Glenn A loud knock jolted Henry McCarthy from sleep at his home in a black community in New Bern, N.C., on the night of April 20, 1864.
Fighting for Freedom: Portraits of soldiers and other Civil War participants
No single group experienced such a dramatic change in fortunes during the Civil War than men of color. In 1861, the vast majority were held in bondage. Those who gained
Silver for The Superb: Hometown tribute to a national hero
By Matt Hagans The favorite son of Norristown arrived home on a stretcher laid across the backs of seats inside a railcar. A guard of veterans lifted the stretcher bearing
Faces in Cases: Representative images from the Bryan Watson collection
Bryan Watson’s passion for collecting might be summed up in a fortune cookie he once received: “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” His treasure can be