April 1865. Petersburg, Virginia. "Dead Federal soldier." Wet plate glass negative, right half of stereo pair, by Thomas Roche. Library of Congress. View full size.
Growing up my dad was a big civil war buff and we visited all the battlegrounds. It was so peaceful and green but still sad. These pictures help bring home the realities of war. So many people lost. Does anyone know what that is next to him, with perhaps his initials on it?
[It's a leather satchel with the "U.S." insignia of the Army. - Dave]