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Ghosts of Atlanta: 1864
"The War in the West." 1864 photo (half of a stereograph) by George N. Barnard. Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper office by the railroad depot. Exposure times ... and interested in knowing as well. Masonic Lodge (1864) in Atlanta I have been researching, and it appears that the Masonic ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2012 - 7:20pm -

"The War in the West." 1864 photo (half of a stereograph) by George N. Barnard. Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper office by the railroad depot. Exposure times were so long that anyone walking appears only as an ectoplasmic blur. View full size. Note tents in background and troop train with soldiers atop the boxcars. where was this in Atlanta?Anyone know where this was in Atlanta? Looking for an approximate street address. Masonic lodgePerhaps the large masonic lodge in the background is still standing ... might be a clue. Try the main PeachtreeTry the main Peachtree Street / locate the address of the Atlanta terminal at the time / try Five Points area / could it be near Kennesaw? good luck--former Atlanta area resident and interested in knowing as well. Masonic Lodge (1864) in AtlantaI have been researching, and it appears that the Masonic Lodge, and another building called The Trout House were on Decatur St. in Atlanta. Click on this link http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cwpb/03300/03304v.jpg (Trout house beside Masonic lodge.) Here is a site with several images of Georgia during the Civil War...scroll down to 1864, and you will see the listing for this picture. http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/cwphotos.htm Now I am off to find out if this Masonic Lodge is still standing. Where was this in Atlanta? (answer)I have been checking around and asking around about where this area in this photo might be, and a new friend on an Atlanta school site gave me this information... Quote: "Decatur Street is one of the main 5 roads that leads to Five Points, which basically is the center of downtown Atlanta, and was the center of town at that time. I think, but not sure, based on that picture and some of the other photos of the Union troop encampments, etc, that the Masonic Hall and Trout House were pretty close to what is now 5 Points. Most of that area of Decatur Street now has been renovated over the last 25 years and is where Georgia State University is located. I am fairly certain that neither of these structures is there any longer. When I went to GSU in the 1960's, I travelled almost the length of Decatur Street to get there. I do not recall ever seeing either of them, even back then, at that time, and to date, much of that area was torn down with Urban Renewal funds from the feds. It was mainly run down buildings and older businesses. It is possible that one of those run down buildings may have been one of the structures. However, Decatur Street runs east for a few miles, and they may have been futher east than I think. During the Civil War era, though, most of that area was rural. The actual Battle of Atlanta that is depicted in the Cyclorama painting took place away from the center of town out in the rural area of Decatur St/Road & what is now Dekalb Ave.(same road). At least this clears up a little bit for us all. sherri Underground AtlantaMy guess is that this was taken near the corner of Peachtree SW (then Whitehall) and Wall St. That would put it in what is now Underground Atlanta, I think. Whitehall StreetWAR-TIME CAMP IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, IN THE OLD CITY PARK At the extreme left is the old Trout House, the principal hotel at the time; tracks of three of the chief railroads here crossed Whitehall Street, on which the "Intelligencer" office fronted. http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/gordon/ill5.html Whitehall & AlabamaMy guess is the corner of Whitehall and Alabama Streets looking northeast. Currently Peachtree Street. Back then Peachtree changed to Whitehall south of Five Point. Atlanta DepotNoticed that the same photographer walked a block or so to the right after taking this one. Does that help narrow the location down? Masonic LodgeBy the Masons' own records, the Lodge in the background stood on the corner of Lloyd (now Central Avenue) and Alabama Street, at south angle. So I would guess that if we're one block west it's on what is now Pryor Street or if two blocks Peachtree. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Alabama+Street+Atlanta&oe=&ie=UTF8&hl=en&h... Ref: http://www.ap59.org/html/atlanta_59.html HandbillIf you look on the corner of the building, you can just make out the word "frolic." Can't quite tell what comes before. [Cobblers? Gobblers? - Dave] Atlanta Intelligencer office I have mapped many of Barnard's photographs on this interactive map. This picture is marked as Pushpin 10. The playbill pasted to the building in the foreground advertises a stage show by Union troops to raise money for Mrs. Rebecca S. Welch, whose husband and son (Confederates) were both killed in Virginia. The Bottom of the Playbill Reads: Benefit Night / Maj(?) I. Smith / Leader of the Band / of the 33rd / Mass. / The Laughable Pantomime / The Cobbler’s Frolic / at the Atheneum / tonight / Saturday /Nov. 5th Location of this buildingThis building was located close to where the Peach Drop tower currently is, at Underground Atlanta. Because of the viaduct that created Underground Atlanta, it would have stood below the current street level. It was on Whitehall Street (now Peachtree). (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Atlanta: 1864
Atlanta, 1864. "Federal Army wagons at railroad depot." And maybe Scarlett ... for one of the four rail lines that ran through Atlanta in 1864. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Horses, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/14/2012 - 11:35am -

Atlanta, 1864. "Federal Army wagons at railroad depot." And maybe Scarlett O'Hara in the distance. Wet plate negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. PoleWhat's the very tall pole at the back left of the photo? Lightning rod? Flagpole? TV antenna? [My guess would be signal mast. - Dave] The Pole AgainLooks like smoke from a chimney and/or a scratch on the negative. [Nope. We are talking about the articulated mast seen below. - Dave] Where is this?I wonder where this is? I'm assuming it's close to contemporary downtown Atlanta (the Underground Atlanta houses the "zero-mile" marker) and it was the center of the railroad traffic, at least after the war... Atlanta Union StationAccording to Rail Georgia that building on the right is Atlanta's first Union Station. Atlanta's first union station, constructed in 1853, stood in the block now bounded by Central Avenue, Wall Street, Pryor Street, and Alabama Street (next to today's Underground Atlanta). Designed by civil engineer E. A. Vincent, it was initially known as the "passenger depot" but came to be better known as the "car shed." Wagon DriverThe guy on the wagon in the foreground only seems to be half there. His head is not articulated and the ground behind it is visible. Strange. [This is how people look when they move during a time exposure. - Dave] The building behind the mastThe building behind the mast is Atlanta's first Fire Station HQ, located alongside what was then called Broad Street. The lens Barnard used to photograph these scenes greatly flattened the perspective, so that some objects appear closer than they really are. AtlantaThe street that runs between the building marked as "Concert Hall" and the white stone building is Peachtree Street, so this is that part of town slightly west of what is known as Five Points. The railroad "gulch" in the picture was covered up in the 1920s by a system of viaducts. Directly across from Peachtree Street ran Whitehall Street. There is a very famous Barnard photo showing a building marked "Negro Sales" which was on Whitehall Street, directly across from the signal mast you can see over the building next to the car shed, which was the depot for one of the four rail lines that ran through Atlanta in 1864. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Horses, Railroads)
Occupied Atlanta: 1864
1864. Atlanta, Georgia. "Atlanta railroad depot and yard; Trout House and Masonic ... full size. "Sherman in Atlanta, September-November 1864. After three and a half months of incessant maneuvering and much hard ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:45pm -

1864. Atlanta, Georgia. "Atlanta railroad depot and yard; Trout House and Masonic Hall in background." From a series of photographs, "War in the West," made by George N. Barnard. Wet-plate glass negative. View full size. "Sherman in Atlanta, September-November 1864. After three and a half months of incessant maneuvering and much hard fighting, General Sherman forced Hood to abandon the munitions center of the Confederacy. Sherman remained there, resting his war-worn men and accumulating supplies, for nearly two and a half months. During the occupation, George N. Barnard, official photographer of the Chief Engineer's Office, made the best documentary record of the war in the West; but much of what he photographed was destroyed in the fire that spread from the military facilities blown up at Sherman's departure on November 15." GWTWThis photo was obviously taken before Sherman destroyed Atlanta as his troops were leaving town. This photo of the open space in the yards might have been used as the inspiration for the panoramic scene in "Gone With the Wind" showing the multitudes of the dead and dying Confederate troops, no? [This picture was taken after the Great Fire of September 2, which marked Sherman's arrival in the city. - Dave] View from the skyHere is a bit of a painting of "Atlanta in 1864" by Wilbur G. Kurtz as reproduced in "Yesterday's Atlanta" by Franklin M. Garrett. Your photo appears to be taken from the City Hall (?) building in the top left. The Trout House can clearly be seen in your photo beyond the station and what the legend of the painting calls the City Park. It also says that the building with the sloping roof to the right of the Trout House is the Masonic Hall. The photo and painting don't quite match. The photo shows clear ground in the foreground while the painting shows houses. At the right the photo also shows what appears to be a circular building (locomotive roundhouse?). This can also be seen right at the end of the street in a previous post. This was taken from the right of the painting image looking left with the large Franklin Printing House building clearly visible on the right hand side of the street. The legend of the painting mentions a roundhouse, but doesn't actually seem to show it. What's there now? I dread to think. The Great Fire of Sept. 2, 1864This is an excerpt from "Atlanta and Environs," Vol. 1, by native Atlanta historian Franklin Garrett. More here. By midnight of September 1st most of the troops had left the city. But a few cavalrymen lingered. They had a special assignment. Hood had no idea of leaving behind, in usable condition, ammunition and military stores for the use of his adversary. Shortly after midnight the citizens who had remained in the city were startled by a series of violent explosions from down the Georgia Railroad opposite Oakland Cemetery and the rolling mill. Hood's ammunition trains, consisting of seven locomotives and 81 loaded cars, had been set afire to deny them to the Federals. As the flames reached each car, it exploded with a terrific din. Five hours were occupied in this work of demolition, which also included the rolling mill. Flames shot to a tremendous height and the exploding missiles scattered their red-hot fragments right and left. The earth trembled. Nearby houses rocked like cradles, while on every hand was heard the shattering of window glass and the fall of plastering and loose bricks. Hundreds of people flocked to high places and watched with breathless excitement the volcanic scene on the Georgia Railroad. Fortunately all the citizens in the vicinity of the explosions had been ordered to leave their houses before the work of blowing up the ammunition trains commenced. Every building, for a quarter of a mile around was either torn to pieces or perforated with hundreds of holes by shell fragments. A new day was dawning when the last car let loose, and the last Confederate cavalrymen galloped out McDonough Road (Capitol Avenue) to rejoin Hood's retreating army. Blow-UpIs it possible to enlarge the sign on the rear of the wagon in the center of the photo? Appears to be in sharp focus, but can't quite make out what it says, might be something interesting! HotlantaRemember there were two fires in Atlanta - The Great Fire of Sept 2 - this is the fire in GWTW and was caused when Hood burned up his ammunition trains - The second fire was when Sherman left to March to the Sea on Nov 15 and the Union Army burned 'anything of value' to the Confederates and, well, things got out of hand - From Sherman's Memoirs - About 7 a.m. of November 16th we rode out of Atlanta by the Decatur road, filled by the marching troops and wagons of the Fourteenth Corps; and reaching the hill, just outside of the old rebel works, we naturally paused to look back upon the scenes of our past battles. We stood upon the very ground whereon was fought the bloody battle of July 22d, and could see the copse of wood where McPherson fell. Behind us lay Atlanta, smouldering and in ruins, the black smoke rising high in air, and hanging like a pall over the ruined city. Away off in the distance, on the McDonough road, was the rear of Howard's column, the gun-barrels glistening in the sun, the white-topped wagons stretching away to the south; and right before us the Fourteenth Corps, marching steadily and rapidly, with a cheery look and swinging pace, that made light of the thousand miles that lay between us and Richmond. Some band, by accident, struck up the anthem of "John Brown's soul goes marching on;" the men caught up the strain, and never before or since have I heard the chorus of "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" done with more spirit, or in better harmony of time and place. That ConcertI am currently doing a lot of research on the history of theater in Atlanta. One of my sources states that Sherman attended 17 band concerts in the old Atheneum (noted in the photo) during the Federal occupation. Since the last info appears to be the date of Nov. 8, it seems to be a rough advertisement for one of those concerts. The Atheneum was on the north side of Decatur Street just before the Trout House when traveling east. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Railroads)
Marietta Street: 1864
1864. "Atlanta, Georgia. View on Marietta Street." Wet plate negative by George N. ... aerial view of your photo -- the centre of a painting of 1864 Atlanta (presumably from sketches from a balloon) by Wilbur G.Kurtz. It ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 5:19pm -

1864. "Atlanta, Georgia. View on Marietta Street." Wet plate negative by George N. Barnard. LOC Civil War glass plate negative collection. View full size. Purple HazeI wonder if one could buy a guitar at J C Hendrix ? Wagon GhostAny idea what the white streak is? [Like you say in the subject line, maybe a covered wagon passing by. - Dave] What the building saidThe building across the street to the right says Furniture. What does the middle building say at the top? ["Franklin Printing House & Bookbindery" - Dave] Is there any way of telling what block of Marietta Street? And I would assume this picture was prior to the Nov. 11 fire. November 11 fireThis photo must have been taken fairly close to that date, as the signs in the lower left corner advertise events (pantomimes are mentioned) taking place on November 8 and 10. ExcitingTo take a peek back into history. I never take the wonder of photography for granted, and each and every picture is like a little piece of time saved. Overhead AtlantaBelow is an aerial view of your photo -- the centre of a painting of 1864 Atlanta (presumably from sketches from a balloon) by Wilbur G.Kurtz. It appears in "Yesterday's Atlanta" by Franklin M.Garrett. Your photo is taken from right to left across the top of this bit of the painting. The big "car shed" is off to the left of the photo, which also seems to show a locomotive roundhouse at the end of the street, not shown in the photo. That's not Marietta StreetIt's Alabama Street, facing east from the intersection of Whitehall. [Any documentation to back this up? - Ken] Marietta and BroadI've spent hours poring over the 1871 Atlanta city directory, and it's clear to me that this picture was taken from the corner of Marietta and Broad, with the photographer standing, elevated, on the opposite side of Marietta Street (which is not visible), and looking southwest down Broad Street toward Alabama Street. In the directory, you can find the Franklin Press (6 Broad), the S.B. Robson Broom company (Broad Street near Alabama), and the Grant Building (corner Broad and Marietta), which is home to many entities, including W.K. Fox Furniture. By 1871, J.C. Hendrix was an assistant secretary to the Georgia Senate; it appears that by that time, J.C. Hendrix & Co. no longer warranted an entry in the directory. It's Alabama StreetI have mapped many of Barnard’s photographs on this interactive map. This picture is marked as Pushpin 7. An earlier comment is correct; this is Alabama Street. Somewhere along the way it got mislabeled – probably due to the RR roundhouse in the background being confused with the larger Western & Atlantic facility in the other direction. Today, the ground level is Underground Atlanta. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Atlanta: 1864
1864. Union Army soldier at Confederate fortifications outside of Atlanta. Wet collodion glass-plate negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. 1864? Wow. That's 143 years! 1864? Wow. That's 143 years! And that ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2011 - 8:42am -

1864. Union Army soldier at Confederate fortifications outside of Atlanta. Wet collodion glass-plate negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. 1864? Wow. That's 143 years!1864? Wow. That's 143 years! And that photo as good as those from my 3 MP digital camera! Earliest born person photographed?Any ideas of what would be the oldest pictured person ever? Hmmm, hard to describe -- what I mean is: what is the earliest-born person ever photographed (e.g., a person born 1795, who was 75 years old, photographed in 1870, etc.) [Probably an oldster photographed in the late 1830s. - Dave] BookWonder what the book was he was reading. Book?Probably a Sidney Sheldon novel he picked up at the gift shot in the Atlanta airport during a six-hour flight delay. Just a guess. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska BookPerhaps it was the play "Our American Cousin" by Tom Taylor. Interesting QuestionEarliest born person photographed? Although Daguerre is generally considedred the first to have taken a photograph of a person (see his capture of someone getting their shoes shined), I'll suggest that William Henry Fox Talbot took the first photo of someone clearly recognizable. His 1840 photograph of a coachman may stand as the oldest known photo of a person, and the oldest person (?) photographed. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska [The commenter was asking: What person in a photograph has the earliest birth year? Possibly someone born in the 1730s or 1740s. - Dave] (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Atlanta Depot: 1864
1864. "Atlanta, Georgia, railroad yards." Wet plate collodion glass negative, left ... View full size. Burned And on September 2nd 1864, the departing Union troops set fire to this railroad terminal and all its ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:44pm -

1864. "Atlanta, Georgia, railroad yards." Wet plate collodion glass negative, left half of stereograph pair, by George N. Barnard. View full size. BurnedAnd on September 2nd 1864, the departing Union troops set fire to this railroad terminal and all its standing Confederate railroad rolling stock to ensure the enemy would not be able to readily reclaim the area. Next day, the mayor of Atlanta and aldermen surrendered the city to the Union, asking for further protections and no additional private property destruction. That scenario was famously dramatized in Gone With the Wind, both book and film. Point (Switch) BladesNotice how there are no blades as such. Sections of rail move across when the lever is pushed/pulled rather than the traditional machined tapered blade. BusterThis photo brightens the day by bringing Buster Keaton's "The General" to mind -- especially the scene involving the famous Keaton curve. Lil SwitcherCheck out the cute little switch engine steaming away over by the cut of cars on the right. Those stub switch stands are the precursors to the harp switch stands, seen here. StacksDoes anyone know why the engine stacks are so big, especially compared to the size of the shunters. Creosote traps? Flash and ember traps? Locomotive SmokestacksThe large stacks were indeed intended to help keep embers from falling on the grass along the tracks. They are much more complicated than they appear since they had cast iron deflectors and screens inside the stacks. Hangin' OutThat's a lot of guys just hangin' out in the switchyard... Link-and-pin couplersBefore the day of the automatic coupler, many a railroad worker lost limb or life to the dangers involved with building a train. Blades, points, switchesThe "blades" you refer to are properly called "points." Points move back and forth to be pushed close to the main running rails to make the locomotives go to the appropriate track. The switches are called stub switches. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Railroads)
Abraham Lincoln: 1865
... a burden? And a question: Going into the summer of 1864, he was certain that he would lose re-election, and lose big (draft/race ... Copperheads, bad press, etc.). If Sherman doesn't capture Atlanta in September, does Lincoln lose? If he is voted out after one term, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 6:52pm -

February 5, 1865. "Abraham Lincoln, seated, holding spectacles and a pencil." Glass transparency; photograph by Alexander Gardner. View full size. Last Studio PortraitI believe this is the last studio portrait of Lincoln to have survived whole and intact. Another photo was taken after this one, but the glass negative cracked and was discarded. Late LincolnMan, he doesn't look long for this world. I wonder how long he would have lived if Booth hadn't intervened. Poor Mr. LincolnHe looks old and haunted. I mean, look at his eyes. The unidealized LincolnThis detailed photo shows me how idealized the familiar paintings and sculptures of Lincoln are. It's not surprising that his contemporaries regarded him as unattractive. He wouldn't have been looking to retirement at this time since he had just been re-elected and was yet to even be sworn in for his second term. He was already looking ahead to his plans for Reconstruction. Amazing shot.What an amazing photo! The Hi-Def version really captures the hard lines from a tough life on President Lincoln's face. Hard to believe he was only 56 years old. Thanks for the great post. So care wornIn this day and age we idolize Mr. Lincoln for many obvious reasons. Perhaps, in 1865, he was merely a very tired, very care worn man who had somehow held the Union together, ended slavery and survived many tragedies, both personal and professional. It is merciful that he didn't know what was next for him. He was hoping for retirement with Mary. ProofThis exquisite photo proves that one picture can be worth a thousand words. I can sense Lincoln's personality. StressA look at recent presidents before and after office is plenty proof of the stress of the job but there is probably no better example than President Lincoln, in my opinion. I appreciate what he did for our country and can only imagine the sleepless nights and internal struggles this man went through. It's evident in his face. He looks exhausted. Last photosThe cracked Gardner photo of Lincoln is part of the National Portrait Gallery's Mask of Lincoln exhibit. While the 1865 Gardner images are indeed the last studio portraits, the last photos of Lincoln were taken at the White House by Henry Warren on March 6, 1865. Haunting PhotoHow I would have liked to talk to this man, if only for five minutes. The wisdom that endures in his speeches, the sadness in his eyes, the love that he must have had for our country. It is all too overwhelming and yet haunting at the same time. CrookedI'm curious about the crooked tie. Was Lincoln careless? Debonair? Showing his frontier cred? I Googled some contemporaries. Salmon Chase - more symmetrical. Frederick Douglass - pretty neat. Edwinn Stanton...indeterminate. The Best...This is the best portrait photo you've ever run on this site. Thank you. Haunted, indeed600,000 dead Americans -- from a nation of around 20 million. Who could bear such a burden? And a question: Going into the summer of 1864, he was certain that he would lose re-election, and lose big (draft/race riots, Copperheads, bad press, etc.). If Sherman doesn't capture Atlanta in September, does Lincoln lose? If he is voted out after one term, does history view him as the guy who sacrificed half a million men to an abstraction? This is the face of a man who asked himself that question. Amazing photograph; thanks for this. The Bedhead Is DeadMakeup! Hint of a smileThat's more of a smile than I'm used to seeing on pictures of Mr. Lincoln. Tired, haunted eyes, yes, but also humor and affability. UnretouchedI've heard that many times. The eyes are the mirrors of the soul and poor Abe shows the toughness of all the sorrows he endured in the wizened eyes and beaten-down optimism that once may have lived there. He gave his all and yet this original heartbreak kid could not attain peace of any kind. Not to mention that in 1865 real men did not submit to "coifs", makeup, manicures, personal fashion consultants, plasticizing of any kind. He had bigger fish to fry, his life was never a day at the spa. But look at the CHARACTER in the biography written in that face. Tell me that isn't beautiful. WillieThe war was one thing, but he also never recovered from the loss of his beloved son, Willie, at age 11. He was aging in dog years from both factors. The real A.L.He's such an interesting looking guy, and you're so used to thinking of him as a picture, it's hard to imagine sometimes this guy actually walking down the street. I can't really think of anyone who looks much like him today. Abe's HealthI have heard for years that, mainly based on his appearance, Lincoln could have had Marfan's Syndrome and would have surely died from that. Today I ran across a website drzebra.com ("zebra is fake doctor is real"), who has written a book on the subject. He believes that Lincoln was dying from multiple endocrine neoplasia. That diagnosis is based in part on the deaths, before age 20 of three of his sons and a lot of other things. Interesting stuff, but he IS trying to sell books. What's he holding?Any idea what he's holding? At first, I thought it was a couple of pens in the one hand, but I don't believe there were ink pens back then. [Read the caption. - Dave] Good-humored manWhen a woman once accused Lincoln of being two-faced, he replied: "My dear lady, if I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?" He was a good man with a sense of humor Lincoln's watchI wonder if he's wearing the watch that's been in the news lately? Living and EverywhereFinally, an image of the President that doesn't look as if it was carved out of granite. And now I recognize him - or his many likenesses. They are everywhere - the worn, darkened, gaunt homeless men as portrayed in countless media images are the people today who bear a striking resemblance to President Lincoln. I never saw that until now. Aging Presidents.This I know from experience - virtually anyone would prematurely age if they have lost their most beloved child. For Lincoln, that was Willie. If you are an honest parent, you have a favorite. If you are a good one, you will never disclose who it is; each should think they were "it". The war was too much for Lincoln to bear. Losing Willie was too much for him to bear. Through both he endured. For him to bear it all and still plan on kind and generous terms for the vanquished South was the best measure of his greatness. The country would have been completely different had he lived. Kennedy too. History was changed, and for the far worse, by the transfer of power to hands not remotely as up to the task. I'd Imagine SoYes his eyes appear haunted, I'm sure he witnessed some real tragedies in his time. Lincoln made choices that few men have ever had to make, or ever dreamed of having to face. He was, and is a great man. You are wrong..JULIE ROSS BIRMINGHAM I really like this picture. This picture reveals to me what I was taught in school. Honest Abe, Abraham Lincoln walking miles for a book. Mind you I was about 7 or 8 years old when I was taught this. I am now 66. My grandmother rented her home to a gentleman named Mr. Bellamy. On one of the stays he told me the President was of all things not the man I had been taught. He (Mr. Bellamy) did not like him. Mr. Bellamy said his familey had lost all because of Civl War. I was devasted. I think in my child mind I tried to defend the President. I still think about that incident when I see anything to do with Honest Abe. I still think he is a noble man. I know now the cost of the War on both sides. I know if he had not been shot by Booth the South would have had a much different future. Thanks your patience. I know this was a long diatribe. Abe's InkerPresident Lincoln wrote with a Parker Fountain Pen. I've seen it. Parker PenAccording to Wikipedia the Parker Pen Company was founded in 1891, hence Lincoln did not use a Parker Pen. Only in AmericaThe adulation that Americans show for their presidents is both laughable and very unhealthy. [In the case of Abraham Lincoln, I'd have to disagree. He was an exceptionally able and intelligent chief executive. - Dave] How heart-wrenchingthis photo just tears at my heart. Secular SaintIt is not for nothing that "Lincoln" (as his friends called him) is the secular equivalent of a saint. No irony intended. Lincoln rose from absolutely nothing to the highest power and influence. Yet each year, he became a better person. (Compare and contrast out political hacks of this day.) Mary A. Livermorewrote of Mr. Lincoln (whom she met personally on a number of occasions in her work with the Sanitary Commission). No painter has ever put into the sad face of the President any hint of the beauty that could radiate and completely metamorphose his homely features, when his great soul shone out through them. 'No sculptor has ever liberated from the imprisoning marble the face that shone like an angel's when the depths of his large heart were reached. "No artist is successful," said Healy, - one of the most successful painters of portraits, - "who does not bring out on the canvas, or in the marble, the best there is in his subject, the loftiest ideal of Nature when she designed the man." If this be true, then neither painter nor sculptor has ever been successful with Mr. Lincoln's face. Personally, I see in his face deep compassion and wish I had known him myself. Colored LincolnColored Linkoln (The Gallery, Alexander Gardner, D.C., Portraits, Public Figures)
Sherman in Atlanta: 1864
... on boxcars at railroad depot next to offices of the Atlanta Intelligencer during the city's occupation by General Sherman. View ... George Barnard. Alternate view here . (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Horses) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2012 - 7:30pm -

Union soldiers on boxcars at railroad depot next to offices of the Atlanta Intelligencer during the city's occupation by General Sherman. View full size. Wet plate glass negative by George Barnard. Alternate view here. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Horses)
Downtown Atlanta (Colorized): 1864
... original negative of right half . The title is “Atlanta, Ga. Wagon Train on Marietta Street”; however, this is in error. In ... a cannon ball ricocheted killing Solomon Luckie on 8/9/1864. Luckie was a free African American barber, and the Lamppost is still ... 
 
Posted by Rob - 08/24/2011 - 8:44am -

This is my attempt at colorizing George N. Barnard’s photograph found on the Library of Congress’s Web site - Digital file from original negative of right half. The title is “Atlanta, Ga. Wagon Train on Marietta Street”; however, this is in error. In fact, it was probably taken from the upper floor of a building at the NW corner of the intersection of Whitehall (now Peachtree) and Alabama Streets looking SE down Alabama. (See details in “Mapping Barnard's Alabama Street” at Bing map) The lamppost in the foreground is almost certainly the one from which a cannon ball ricocheted killing Solomon Luckie on 8/9/1864. Luckie was a free African American barber, and the Lamppost is still standing with reinforcements placed over the shell damage in Underground Atlanta. There are still some refinements that I would like to make to this image, but the file is so large my computer – or my old version of Photoshop – won’t take any more changes. View full size. (Colorized Photos)
Old Dixie Down: 1864
1864. A passel of Yankees in repose. "Federal picket post near Atlanta, Georgia." Wet collodion glass plate negative by George N. Barnard. ... it was taken just prior to the Battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864), however that is highly unlikely. It is hard to imagine Barnard setting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:45pm -

1864. A passel of Yankees in repose. "Federal picket post near Atlanta, Georgia." Wet collodion glass plate negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. Worn-outI'm always amazed when seeing old photos like this, that the movie companies haven't realized that clothing was stretched, worn, and wrinkled, that hats were soggy felt instead of "crisp clean stetsons," and boots were worn through! In our theater company, we do a "breakdown" on almost all our wardrobe (sometimes with belt sanders), but I don't think even that can match the reality of the era! YankeesI hate to be one of those grammar people.... but since we are talking about the South ... The word "Yankees" should always be prefaced with "damn," or similar pejorative. Stoneman's cavalry, tired from tearing up the tracks?I swear, I don't know which I enjoy more -- the amazing Shorpy photos, or your clever titles for them. How Many Liveswould have been saved if they only had steel helmets, even like those used in WWII. There were a lot of head injury deaths back then. Makes you wonder why they never thought of a helmet of sorts. SkinnyThe other thing I always notice is how very lean these men all were. They spent their lives marching; their diet was meager, even on the Union side. The stress level in their lives was tremendous. That's one thing war movies and reenactors never get right. They were scrawny little guys. FootlooseThe lone shoe tells of the "horrendous loss" war demands. Missing in ActionWhere's the fellow who is usually shown lying across the bottom of all the other group photos. Defensive positionIt looks as if these men have built a small defensive position here. It seems to be a low wall built of logs, debris and mud, with the building built into it. The porch has bricks stacked to continue the breast works. If attacked they could shoot from behind a pretty solid wall. This would have been the Civil War equivalent of digging a foxhole. And another thingNo one ever smiles! I know the exposure times were much longer in those days, and posing was a chore, but everyone looks so solemn all the time. This particular day doesn't look very joyous, but still. Hold Your RazorsHalf of these boys ain't even of shaving age yet! Helmets Obsolete in 1860The helmet had been discarded along with chain mail and suits of armor once they were rendered useless by gunpowder and bullets. The tradeoff was increased mobility and a major change of tactics over the centuries. The American Civil War was largely fought with concepts introduced during the Napoleanic war where massed infantry closed and fired face-to-face at virtually point-blank range, a result of the less powerful, short-range weapons then in use. The musket of the 1860s however had a much higher velocity and longer range, and was a far cry from any squirrel gun, muzzle-loader or shotgun with which recruits might be familiar. As such, the musket "kicked" hard when fired, causing the shooter to pull up involuntarily while the ball was still traveling down the barrel — early on, many Federal troops wore approximately 3" brass or fire gilt buckles over the chest as part of their uniform that proved an excellent aiming point for even the most inexperienced Confederate infantryman — and as the shooter's weapon moved upward a foot or so, the ball would most likely strike the head of his opponent. Later, the American Civil War introduced the concept of fixed fortifications, including trenches, and re-introduced stalemate/siege warfare. This again changed the role of artillery from largely defensive to offensive. Exploding shells designed to dislodge and eliminate dug-in infantry were a novel idea in the 1860s. By WWI however, they had advanced considerably and were designed to burst in the air over enemy positions, filling the ground below with deadly shrapnel — the early hardened steel helmet with its wide brim was designed to protect the head from this, but offered little protection from bullets, a shortcoming that was realized during WWII when the sides were extended downward. Stone MountainAny idea how close to Atlanta? If we're talking CLOSE to Atlanta I know of only one mountain as big as what is behind them, and that is Stone Mountain. Amputee?The soldier leaning against the tree looks as though he lost his right arm. [Something tells me his limb is behind the tree. - Dave] Federal Picket PostI suppose picket duty would mean they're guards or sentries. Picket -- An advance outpost or guard for a large force was called a picket. Ordered to form a scattered line far in advance of the main army's encampment, but within supporting distance, a picket guard was made up of a lieutenant, two sergeants, four corporals, and 40 privates from each regiment. Picket duty constituted the most hazardous work of infantrymen in the field. Being the first to feel any major enemy movement, they were also the first liable to be killed, wounded, or captured. And the most likely targets of snipers. Picket duty, by regulation, was rotated regularly in a regiment. Stone MountainThat does in fact look like Stone Mountain to me - I can nearly see it from my house. There are some mountains of about the same size in Kennesaw, north of Atlanta, but those are all covered with trees. The mountain in this photo is bare. Can't imagine what else would fit the bill. PicketersBased on the definition below of the picket unit, we have here, possibly, the Lieutenant, with officer piping on his trousers, center right and facing left holding rifle; two Sergeants, one on the left side leaning against a tree and the other sitting in front of the Lieutenant and facing left; and the four Corporals, with taller hats. Bringing a knife to a gun fight...On first glance when this photo was first posted I also thought the officer in the center was holding a rifle with the muzzle facing down. Upon closer inspection he actually has his hand on the handle of his saber. The fence post behind him gives the illusion of the stock of a rifle, especially in the small image size. Muzzle down would be a weird position while seated, as it could easily contact the dirt and clog the muzzle with the resulting dire consequences the next time it was fired. A saber, isn't that like bringing a knife to a gun fight in this case. Knives and gunsThe bayonet was invented because sometimes a knife is just what you need in a gunfight -- particularly with the slow rate of fire on muzzle-loading muskets. Stone Mountain or Arabia Mountain?It could be Arabia Mountain. It's part of the same rock vein as Stone, but significantly smaller. EarthworksIt is not a mountain in the background, but rather an earthen fort atop a hill. You can see sandbags along the parapet and also used as cribbing near the shoulder of the man standing to the left. Although barely discernible in this picture (I have a higher resolution copy), a little ways above the head of the fellow in the center of the shot, are abatis. They form sort of a regular pattern just beneath the horizontal branch on the left of the tree whose top has been knocked off. Barnard took quite a few pictures of the earthworks that enclosed Atlanta, but never ventured far from the city when photographing that place. Another version of this photo claims it was taken just prior to the Battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864), however that is highly unlikely. It is hard to imagine Barnard setting up his camera within easy sniper and artillery range of what at the time would have been an enemy-occupied fortification. Invisible chevrons?Apart from the officer all the enlisted men in this photo appear to be privates. Not a sergeant or corporal in sight. The ChevronsIn 1864 the war was still raging. Many non-coms and officers did not wear insignia of rank in combat. They would, understandingly, be singled out by snipers. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Nashville: 1864
1864. "Nashville, Tennessee. Rail yard and depot with locomotives." Wet-plate ... apart any minute. I'm afraid Nashville here looks like Atlanta post Sherman! Where's Buster? Great RR view...but I kept ... a fight in February of 1862. However, in the fall of 1864, in a last ditch effort to relieve the pressure on General Lee's forces in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:26pm -

1864. "Nashville, Tennessee. Rail yard and depot with locomotives." Wet-plate glass negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. Another view here. This Railroad Terminalis not eligible for the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Less is MoorishWhat bizarre architecture! That sagging entry portal is being held up with that one flimsy pole? And the archways look Persian or Turkish or "Arabian" while the turrets look like an English castle. The whole thing looks like it's going to fall apart any minute. I'm afraid Nashville here looks like Atlanta post Sherman! Where's Buster?Great RR view...but I kept looking for Buster Keaton peeking out of one of the locomotive cabs, or sitting on a connecting rod kissing his girlfriend! Perspective is an odd thingThose huge chunks of wood make the engines look tiny, even though I know they aren't. I also like the ghostly image of the now long-dead man in the shack. It's a rare treat to look back 100+ years into the past and I'm still amazed at the clarity of these old photographs. Music CityThis shot was taken where the bulk of downtown Nashville now resides. You can see the state capital off to the right. Even today Nashville is a pretty small city. Growing up not far from there, it always amazed me that such a smallish city could have such clout in the world of country music. NashvilleThe building that you see in the upper right hand corner of the photo is the state capital. It was completed only a few years before the beginning of the war in 1861. It still stands today. Nashville fell to Union forces without a fight in February of 1862. However, in the fall of 1864, in a last ditch effort to relieve the pressure on General Lee's forces in Virginia, confederate president Jefferson Davis ordered confederate General Hood to disengage from following Sherman to the sea and attack Nashville and after its capture move into Kentucky and then Ohio in hopes of the Union suing for peace. So, on December 15th and 16th of 1864 Union forces came out of their dug in positions and attacked Hood who had over the two proceeding weeks dug in and waited for the Union forces of General Thomas. Then over those two days Union forces soundly defeated the confederate forces. WOW....What an incredible photo, and could be of great use to model railroaders doing that era. The wood clutter would be almost impossible to manage due to the amount of engines and all burning wood....I guess there was no forest management in those days either. As a Canadian I must ask what USMRR stands for. CrenelatedThe "crenelated" appearance could easily be a Moorish or Spanish-Moorish influence. They weren't just "English castle" style but really pretty universal. Telegraph linesThe timbers on the the crenelated corner towers (chimneys?) do look like rail ties, but they have been fitted with prong-like pieces of wood and ceramic insulators for telegraph lines. Some of the lines themselves can be seen running from the insulators on the front corner tower to the insulators on the scaffolding at the center back roof parapet, and to another timber with three insulators on the tower at the far back corner of the building. All of this looks like an ad hoc arrangement, perhaps the result of a wartime need for more telegraph lines than were needed for a peacetime rail depot, or to quickly replace lines that were downed when the brickwork was damaged. Up thereOkay, I've got to ask. What are those things sticking out of the "turrets"? [They look like sections of track, complete with ties. - Dave] Nashville DepotThis depot was on McLemore Street. This Google view is pretty close. Those might be the same bricks in the 1864 photo. View Larger Map USMRR>> As a Canadian I must ask what USMRR stands for. The answer can be found here. CamouflageI looked at the full-size picture for quite a while before I realized that there are two workers sitting in front of the woodpile. Pony truck journalsPlease note the external journals on the pony truck of the lead engine nearest the camera. That's something you did not normally see on steam engines until the the twentieth century and then not until the "twenties" and then it was unusual. C&NW 4-8-4s had 'em. A few others too. Interesting! In 1864. USMRR I am sure the meaning of USMRR means United States Military Rail Road. Rolling stock and engines were valuable for transportation during the Civil War. Far faster than horses capable of 40 to 50 MPH for long periods, the US government during this time depended on rail transportation. Nashville was a hub for the South plus it's Cumberland River traffic, hence the gathering of so much here. Nashville Railroad Yard in 1864 by BernardThe State capitol building in the upper right orients you pretty well as to where Bernard took the Photo. Although the depot buildings are long gone, the RR yard is still there, although probably not for very long--the neighborhood is getting very posh now and CSX Railroad is sitting on valuable real estate. It is called the Kaine Avenue Yard and the rsilroad still uses it, mainly for trains passing through the city (the ones staying go on to the huge Radnor yards). In the 1890's they built Union Station adjacent to the tracks--approximately where the lower right of the photo would be. The center of the Yard lies just below the Demumbreun Street Bridge on Eleventh Avenue; Bernard probably took the photo a little ways up the hill, around Twelfth, likely across the street from where a strip club now exists. The photo was probably taken sometime around the battle of Nashville, but there are only a couple of shots of the Union battle lines and none of any action. Bernard preferred buildings to people. FYI (The Gallery, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Nashville, Railroads)
Auction & Negro Sales: 1864
Whitehall Street, Atlanta, 1864. This photo of a black Union soldier posted at a slave auction ... Gen. Sherman's occupation of the city in the fall of 1864. Many were destroyed in the conflagration that erupted upon Sherman's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:04pm -

Whitehall Street, Atlanta, 1864. This photo of a black Union soldier posted at a slave auction house in Atlanta is one of hundreds taken by George N. Barnard during Gen. Sherman's occupation of the city in the fall of 1864. Many were destroyed in the conflagration that erupted upon Sherman's firing of Confederate munitions stores when he departed on Nov. 15. View full size. Makes it seem more realThis is a disturbing picture. I knew about the slave trade, of course, but somehow seeing this picture with the auction house in the middle of a regular street makes it more real. I can imagine someone saying, "Oh, you want a cigar? Just go down the hill, past the place where they sell people, and the tobacconist is on your left." Sinister?I don't think this picture is sinister. A black Union soldier, armed, sitting in front of the auction house. And, what's more, he's READING. In a way it says "these days are over". Almost a propaganda picture. Or hope at least, even if those days weren't quite over. trompe l'oeil lampsThe trompe l'oeil lamps below "Queensware" are interesting... but yes, this is a sinister image. Re: Sinister?I have to agree, there's something peaceful and dignified about the black Union soldier calmly reading, his rifle propped up against the wall beside him that does in fact say, that this is a place of violation no more. Wouldn't it have been wonderful for the soldier to have been identified, so the generations after him could look back at their ancestor with pride? CreepyThis picture is really creepy. I nver really thought about the suffering of those who had been sold. Crockery and slavesThe building housed two separate businesses, Thomas R. Ripley's Crockery - which occupied the top half - and Crawford, Frazer and Co., which had its office on the lower floor. For what it is worth, Crawford, Frazer was an auction house and sold many things besides slaves and not usually, from what I can tell, from this storefront. There were other auction houses in town that dealt in the same sort of "merchandise." Just down the street from this photo, located between two buildings on the east side of Whitehall, was an actual "slave yard" where human beings for sale were more or less penned up. It all just underscores the fact that slavery - though definitely not unknown in the north - was such an accepted fact of life in the South that there was competition enough to support several such businesses. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Hatlanta: 1864
1864. "Atlanta, Georgia. Street view." To the right, a hatter. Everywhere else, dirt ... like for a 21st century American to be dropped into this 1864 Atlanta on a summer day - the assault on modern-day olfactory senses would ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 5:26pm -

1864. "Atlanta, Georgia. Street view." To the right, a hatter. Everywhere else, dirt and mud. Wet plate glass negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. LoiterersThat's a pretty sad looking group of men sitting on that ledge. Understandable. 3-D store signsI see several three-dimensional store signs on this street: the hat, what appears to be a boot on the left, and a horse's head. Any thoughts on whether these were aids to help identify the store in the days of prevalent illiteracy, or just a local fad? There is also a boot, whichThere is also a boot, which I would take as a shoe store and a horse head which would indicate a harness and saddlery shop Boot sellerThere's a boot store across the street from the haberdasher and about 2 buildings up. Good thing too with all that dirt and mud! Veryy Punny!Nice play on Atlanta's other nickname. How on earth can you tell there's a hatter there, though? I can't make out any clue... Period CandidsThank goodness for idlers, otherwise we'd never have truly candid images of people from this period. Also, one of the best-ever Shorpy ghosts, leaning against the lamppost in the right foreground. WiredAre those wires running across the street, or scratches on the negative? [Actual wires, visible in another photo taken from the same spot. Telegraph wires I guess. - Dave] I'd rather look at it than smell it!I can never study scenes from this and later periods without thinking what it would be like for a 21st century American to be dropped into this 1864 Atlanta on a summer day - the assault on modern-day olfactory senses would be an experience that would be hard to get used to. Dirt, refuse, horses, tobacco use, coal and wood smoke, cooking odors, lack of refrigeration, no public refuse services, industrial effluence, inadequate drainage and sewerage facilities; laundering and cleaning a labor-intensive effort; bathing not a daily luxury or possibility (or desire) for most people. Those for whom city living was the norm may have hardly noticed. Country living may have been marginally better - if you were outdoors. Even in Washington DC at this time, pigs and chickens were in the streets. Such conditions took a toll on life expectancy. Early crosswalkI liked the apparent "crosswalk" in the foreground, it looks like a series of paving blocks crossing the otherwise muddy street. However, with one block missing and several others being overtaken by the mud, it may have been an idea before its time. This is Whitehall StreetIf you are familiar with the other famous Barnard photograph showing the building marked "Negro Sales" this is what you would see if you stood beside that building and turned to face the opposite direction. The SmellThey had to be used to it. What other conditions did they know of? I too think about this often. Especially the women in all that clothing in that heat. Oh My! There's no way modern people could survive. The smells alone would surely take us out! All a blurI love the effect of the time exposure. You can actually see the street activity from 1864. Very cool. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Battle of Nashville: 1864
1864. "Nashville. Railroad yard and depot with locomotives; Tennessee Capitol ... was overthrown by Gen. George H. Thomas on December 15-16, 1864, in the most complete victory of the war. If the date borne on this ... component of General Johnston's Confederate Army. Once Atlanta fell, in desperation, the Confederacy split up Johnston's Army and sent ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 7:59pm -

1864. "Nashville. Railroad yard and depot with locomotives; Tennessee Capitol in the distance. From photographs of the War in the West: Hood before Nashville. Continuing his policy of the offensive at any cost, Gen. John B. Hood brought his reduced army before the defenses of Nashville, where it was overthrown by Gen. George H. Thomas on December 15-16, 1864, in the most complete victory of the war. If the date borne on this photograph is correct, it was taken in the course of the battle." Wet plate glass negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. War BonnetWow, nice image of the poke bonnet on the lady to the right. Elegant EnginesThose locomotives are beautiful. Looks like the one that pulled Capt. James West and Artemus Gordon in the Wild Wild West. Battle of NashvilleTo clarify, Hood was the Confederate general, attacking Nashville from the south. The Union defenders had larger numbers, and better leadership, and destroyed Hood's army. In the middle of a war zone, many of the locos are immaculately maintained, in contrast to the track and buildings. The first engine out is interesting, bigger and fancier than the others, and with unusual outside bearing lead truck. Wonder if it was getting prepped for an official's (Gen. Thomas?) inspection train? The tenders are lettered "US Military RR." Thomas CircleMajor General George H. Thomas, a native Virginian, remained true to his oath and became the most successful Union general during the war. His victory over Hood at Nashville did little to improve Grant's dislike of him. Thomas, though, was enormously popular with his soldiers in the Army of the Cumberland who called him "Old Pap". He is commemorated at Thomas Circle in Washington, D.C. (Connecting the Shorpy dots) Holy Mogul!Those shiny American 4-4-0's are really beautiful, but the most interesting locomotive in the picture has to be the burned-out hulk right in the middle. It appears to be a 2-6-0 Mogul with a swiveling front "bogie" truck. Considering that the first recorded locomotive of this type was built for the Louisville & Nashville in 1860, this could the remains of that historic engine, the first of thousands of a very successful locomotive type. Sure would like to know how she ended up in such terrible shape. Fortunes of war? Beat me to it, Code BasherAs many times as I've seen this image and focused on the brass and woodwork of the 4-4-0s by the engine house, this time the 2-6-0 jumped out at me like something from the future (how did that get there?!); the first comment in the column addressed my surprise perfectly. Indexing filesIs there any that the pictures can be indexed? When perusing your files for long periods of time, as I do, I would like to be able to quit the site and return at some time and be able to locate the place where I was previously. However I find no way to accomplish this. Can you help? [Bookmark the page. - Dave] A part of my history was hereWhile recently tracing my ancestry, I found one of my great-great-great-great-grandfathers. Thanks to some wonderful 19th century person/group who understood the value in such things, I found a mini biography of him that says he served under General Thomas; enlisted in Company F, 64th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. in September of 1864. 145 years ago. I can't wait to further comb through pictures like these. I figure it's the closest I'll ever get to seeing through his eyes. Battle of NashvilleDuring the Civil War, an army was composed of Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry. The Cavalry were the eyes and ears of the army. Without a Calvary component, an army was simply not an effective fighting force. Gen Hood commanded the Cavalry component of General Johnston's Confederate Army. Once Atlanta fell, in desperation, the Confederacy split up Johnston's Army and sent Hood to Tennessee to try to disrupt the supply lines to Sherman and to engage the Union forces occupying Tennessee and Kentucky. For both Johnston and Hood, their mission objectives were simply impossible. Johnston stood no chance of stopping Sherman without a viable army. And Hood stood even less of a chance against a well fortified city. Hood's army were so starved that they actually ate pumpkins and walnuts on the march back to Tennessee. For an excellent read on the civil war in the western front from a southern private's perspective I urge you to pick up "Company Aytch" by Samuel Watkins - 1882. Of 3200 men who made up his regiment, 65 returned home - 4 days shy of 4 years from the day they marched off. General Hood sacrificed both legs and an arm in the war. The story is not one of tactics and strategies, but of the daily life and struggles of the southern soldier. Watkins tale is humorous and uplifting. I simply do not know how he found it within himself to keep such a positive spirit against such adversity & desperate circumstances. All of Tennessee should be proud of their native sons... It is a great book! Shelby Foote's favorite on the topic. Beautiful BuildingThe big building on the hill in the upper right corner is very beautiful. Does anyone know if that building still stands? Regardless of that what is the name of the building so I can search for more pictures. Tennessee State CapitolAs noted in the caption, the building is the State Capitol. The street view, though an ugly parking lot now, seems an improvement to me over war nonetheless. View Larger Map View of the capital of Nashville I have lived in Nashville and scoured this area in modern times. The Capital building still stands today without much change! The rail yards shown here in the foreground are long gone but this is the present area of Union street and 10th avenue. Nearby Church street passes under a RR grade. This view looks to the North East and the camera focal length must shorten the distance. (The Gallery, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Nashville, Railroads)
Auction & Negro Sales: 1864
Whitehall Street, Atlanta, 1864. This photo of a black Union soldier posted at a slave auction ... Gen. Sherman's occupation of the city in the fall of 1864. Many were destroyed in the conflagration that erupted upon Sherman's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2011 - 8:41am -

Whitehall Street, Atlanta, 1864. This photo of a black Union soldier posted at a slave auction house in Atlanta is one of hundreds taken by George N. Barnard during Gen. Sherman's occupation of the city in the fall of 1864. Many were destroyed in the conflagration that erupted upon Sherman's firing of Confederate munitions stores when he departed on Nov. 15. View full size. What's in his hands?A Bible or a BlackBerry? One Stop ShoppingLamp oil? Check. Tobacco? Check. Human being? Check. Shame of slavery...We should also remember that the nation put its very life on the line in order to end it. Thank God we are past this!As a nation we should feel shame that we sold our fellow human beings. Thank god for pictures and history, so the same mistakes are not repeated. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard)
Military R.R.: 1865
... main Eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865. Wet plate glass negative. View full size. Robinson ... given day by the fall of 1864 including the ironclad ram "Atlanta" with one stack. Poor Lighting Amazing that all the headlights ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 8:53pm -

City Point, Virginia, circa 1865. "Gen. J.C. Robinson" and other locomotives of the U.S. Military Railroad. From views of the main Eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865. Wet plate glass negative. View full size. Robinson ahead by a nose Seems that the Lt. Genl. Grant is running a close second. The named locomotives are from the Wm. Mason Machine Works in Taunton, Mass. The engine ahead of both seems unnamed. Might be an "American" locomotive or a Wm. Mason. LocationThe terrain and the enormity of the facilities in place makes me almost certain that this was taken at City Point, Virginia, the Union's main supply depot for the area at the time. [Another clue would be the first three words of the caption. - Dave] Who's DrivingThe engineer is definitely not Buster Keaton. Any ideawhat the black things are in the upper right hand portion of the picture? When I looked at the blown up picture it looked a little bit like a lot of black socks hanging on a clothesline but that's obviously incorrect. [It's a scratch in the emulsion. - Dave] A bigger nameHard for me to see, but appears to be "Lt Gen. US Grant" on loco behind the Robinson machine. I am amazed at the hillside, ships and living conditions of the period. Grant's Iron HorseSaturday we saw Grant's horse "Cincinnati;" today we see Grant's Iron Horse, "Lt. Genl. Grant," on the left. Union IroncladA turret of a Union ironclad can be seen in the background over the top of the pier-side warehouse. This could be the USS Onondaga, which was stationed at City Point to prevent Confederate ironclads from breaking out of the James River and attacking the supply base. The problem is that the USS Onondaga had two turrets and I only see one. Grant and Lee There is a photo so similar to this one in the book "Grant and Lee" by William A. Frassanito that it must have been taken about the same time. It is in the City Point chapter view 8. The tents and buildings on top of the bluff were part of the Railroad Hospital. The wharf shown is a replacement for one that was blown up by saboteurs on August 9,1864. The explosion killed 43 laborers and according to Mr. Frassanito narrowly missed General Grant who was in front of his headquarters tent at the time. His books have photos taken during the Civil War and then the same scene in modern times. IroncladIn regard to the comment by Excel08 about the ironclad. Also according to Mr. Frassanito there would be about 200 vessels anchored off of City Point on any given day by the fall of 1864 including the ironclad ram "Atlanta" with one stack. Poor LightingAmazing that all the headlights on these locomotives were a kerosene lamp in a box with a magnifying lens. Spectre-visionNifty ghost in front of main tent! Hillside erosionAttention troopers! Gen. Grant has authorized the issuing of hazard pay due to the hillside erosion and the location of the outhouse. It is further recommended that only those soldiers who know how to swim should make use of the facilitiesafter dark. Buster Isn't ThereI'll bet he is out visiting Annabelle Lee. InterestingAlmost as interesting as the locomotives are the view of the ships in the harbor. OopsHow did I not see that? Boy, is that embarrassing. Hey youget back to work. 25 years of progressIt amazes me to think that these beautifully turned out engines are only one generation away from the dawn of American railroading (think Tom Thumb and iron-plated wooden tracks). A person born in 1820 grew up with horse, foot or canal-boat travel, when 50 miles was a good day's journey. During their adult years, they saw the rise of well-established railroads that could travel fifty miles per hour. This, together with the telegraph, was the dawn of the "shrinking world." The Third LocomotiveThe locomotive moving forward between the "Lt. Genl. Grant" and the "Genl. J.C. Robinson" is the "Governor Nye." This 4-4-0 was built by the Richard Norris & Son locomotive works in Philadelphia, and was acquired new by the USMRR on February 18, 1863. Sent to North Carolina in 1865 to work on the USMRR, it was still in the USMRR inventory in April 1866. Another photo taken within minutes of this one shows it in the yard. Watch that last step...I don't think that cliff-side staircase meets any imaginable safety regulation. Bridge Of Beanpoples & Cornstalks General J.C. Robinson 4-4-0 (Construction # 124) Formerly known as the USMRR locomotive General Haupt and acquired new by USMRR on January 17, 1863. Renamed General J.C. Robinson. Sold to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1865. http://www.nvcc.edu/home/csiegel/USMRR%20Locomotives.htm "That Man Haupt has built a bridge over Potomac Creek, about 400 feet long and nearly 100 feet high, over which loaded trains are running every hour, and upon my word gentlemen, there is nothing in it but beanpoles and cornstalks." Monitor identityThe monitor noted by others is most likely a Passaic-class ship and probably the Lehigh. The primary assumption is that the ship is perpendicular to the line of sight (as are the other ships). In that case comparing the monitor's funnel (tall thin light-colored tube to the left of the turret) to the turret, they are signifiicantly closer spaced than would be the funnel-turret distance for a Canonicus-class ship, the only other type which fits what is visible. This marks it as a Passaic. To identify it as the Lehigh is the stretch. At least three Passaics were known to have been in the City Point area at this time; the Lehigh, Patapsco, and Sangamon. The Patapsco and Sangamon were both confusingly identified as having a white ring at the top of the turret/base of the rifle shield. There is no ring visible on the turret of this monitor. The Lehigh was all black. O Scale model Civil War model railroadBernie Kempenski is building a model railroad with these kinds of locomotives, etc. His is dated 1862. http://usmrr.blogspot.com (The Gallery, Civil War, Railroads)
The Roundhouse: 1864
November 1864. "Railroad yards at Atlanta. The Roundhouse. Ruins of depot, blown up on Sherman's departure." Wet ... (which show different roundhouses) were made late in 1864. - Dave] Oops! Sorry Dave - my picture source was dated wrong. My ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 4:07pm -

November 1864. "Railroad yards at Atlanta. The Roundhouse. Ruins of depot, blown up on Sherman's departure." Wet plate glass negative by George N. Barnard. Civil War glass negative collection, Library of Congress. View full size. Switch DesignThey had a more obvious idea of how a switch had to work. PeacefulA rather tranquil scene with the man taking his ease on the boxcar roof. The raw logs under the rails are in sharp contrast to the sleepers of today. But two years on all was to change. [This isn't "two years on" -- both photos (which show different roundhouses) were made late in 1864. - Dave] Oops!Sorry Dave - my picture source was dated wrong. My knowledge of your Civil War needs work. Guess the only thing I got right was both pictures have trains in them. [Confusion probably stems from the fact that 1866 is the year the folio of photographs including the image below was published, not when the pictures were taken. - Dave] Pre OSHA and NSFWPrior to the invention of the Westinghouse air brake in 1869 shortly after the Civil War, the brakeman's job was a miserable and dangerous one, while being constantly exposed to the elements when on duty. Notice the long metal vertical rod operated by a handlebar on the back of the third car from the left which actuated the brake mechanisms on the trucks. Each car had to have its brakes adjusted manually by the brakeman sitting on the roof. The third car clearly shows there's a footrest for the brakeman and directly to the right and slightly below is an open window where the foreman may shout orders at him. Such luxuries! Notice also the coupler system in this photo prior to the invention of the Janney spring-loaded coupler of 1874. Look at those big square holes you had to load with big iron pins to tie the cars together. Many opportunities to lose a limb or just get squished altogether, which happened often. (The Gallery, Atlanta, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Railroads)
Company B: 1864
August 1864. "Petersburg, Virginia. Group of Company B, U.S. Engineer Battalion." ... main Eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865. Wet-plate glass negative. View full size. Two firsts ... successful career as a building contractor in Knoxville, Atlanta and Birmingham. I have no photographs of him and few stories so these ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 8:56pm -

August 1864. "Petersburg, Virginia. Group of Company B, U.S. Engineer Battalion." Photographs from the main Eastern theater of war, the siege of Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865. Wet-plate glass negative. View full size. Two firsts for meI've never seen a pipe that long. His smoke is probably coming out on the other side of the Mason-Dixon. Also, I think this may be the first picture I've ever seen of a completely clean-shaven Civil War soldier. Long pipeMaybe he'd heard about secondhand smoke. Hat BrassIt's a rarity to see so much hat brass on soldiers this late in the war. Usually it was one of the first things to be lost. The Engineer Cresthas what appears to be a "C" above it. This would normally indicate these men are from Company C rather than Company B. [There's also a D. Same setting as this photo. - Dave] So.......where's that Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy? Essayons stars?I recognize the cross-legged soldier on the left. He was a member of Essayons Dramatic Club. If you check their group photo he is also on the left front row. See Dave -- we do pay close attention to your postings. [I don't think he's in the other photo. - Dave] The PipeThat looks to be a clay bowl with a dry reed stem. Some soldiers had briar pipes, but I believe the clay and reed combos were very affordable. The Bearded OnesIt is striking to see clean-shaven Civil War guys, isn't it? The drama club boys of a few days ago had a couple whiskerless ones too. The giant beard is really ingrained in the "Civil War Soldier" mental image. It's interesting that the beard thing was so ubiquitous, and then completely went away and pretty much never came back -- for which I must say I am thankful. Most guys I know indulge their urge for facial hair with stunts like "No Shave November," but fortunately, they are not like that all the time. CastleI noticed the man on the far right has a castle emblem on his shirt, the same castle Army Engineers have today. [It's the same insignia that's on the other men's caps. - Dave] Company B from MaineCompany B was one of several new companies of engineers formed at the beginning of the War and was recruited in Portland, Maine. My great grandfather, a farm boy from Gardiner, joined up and served until 1867 when he was discharged with the rank of sergeant. His Army experience was far-reaching since following the War he had a long and successful career as a building contractor in Knoxville, Atlanta and Birmingham. I have no photographs of him and few stories so these old pictures give some feeling of his adventures. I can't help but wonder if he might be one of these strange and fierce-looking characters. Why helloTotal crush on the guy seated on the far left with his legs crossed. (The Gallery, Civil War)
The View From Here: 1864
1864. "Nashville, Tennessee. View from Capitol." Wet plate glass negative by ... died n this war. My grandfather saw feathers n the air n Atlanta and at age 5, found it amazing. He learned later that Sherman and ... is masterful, 'tis a mindbogglingly modern touch for 1864. Is that George N. Barnard himself holding the statues up (I wouldn't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 2:16pm -

1864. "Nashville, Tennessee. View from Capitol." Wet plate glass negative by George N. Barnard. View full size. In Union handsIf you were Sesech, it didn't look good for you in Nashville either. When this photo was taken, Nashville was already under Union control as it was the first Confederate capital to fall to Federal troops in February 1862. StatuesqueAn alternate view, along with a link (in the comments) to the story of the statues. Doesn't look good.When I look north I see Grant marching to Virginia, and to the south I see Sherman marching to the sea. Battle of Nashville Preservation Society "During the Union occupation of Nashville (1862-65), the Capitol was transformed into Fortress Andrew Johnson. The artillery located there never had to be fired in battle, but were used for drills and celebrations." That would explain the massive timbers blocking the steps. Men In BlackTake the clothes off the guy on the right and it would almost look like he belongs there, however I wouldn't want to see it. Five blocks awaySit I in my office (which was used as a hospital during the Civil War) Civil WarMy great-grandfathers died n this war. My grandfather saw feathers n the air n Atlanta and at age 5, found it amazing. He learned later that Sherman and troops were splitting all feather beds looking for hidden treasures. [How nteresting. - Dave] Almost existentialist. Every time I see these two remarkable photographs I think of how modern their composition is. For me, they're an inseparable pair which should be viewed sequentially, as here. (I'd have been most proud if I'd taken them). For the period -- hardly 30+ years since the invention of photography and barely having emerged from slow poisonous daguerreotype era -- these photographs, especially the second one, are just wonderful. Composition, lighting, photographic technology, happenstance, a first rate photographer and even a ladder have all combined to make what we today would understand as iconic prizewinning photos. The inclusion of the ladder is masterful, 'tis a mindbogglingly modern touch for 1864. Is that George N. Barnard himself holding the statues up (I wouldn't be s bit surprised)? Does anyone know for sure? (The Gallery, Civil War, Geo. Barnard, Nashville)
Chattanooga Depot: 1864
1864. Chattanooga, Tennessee. "Boxcars and depot with Federal cavalry guard ... year, when Chattanooga was the base for Sherman's Atlanta campaign." Wet plate glass negative, half of stereo pair, photographer ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/16/2008 - 8:04am -

1864. Chattanooga, Tennessee. "Boxcars and depot with Federal cavalry guard beyond. From photographs of the War in the West. Battle of Chattanooga, September-November 1863. Photograph probably taken the following year, when Chattanooga was the base for Sherman's Atlanta campaign." Wet plate glass negative, half of stereo pair, photographer unknown. View full size. Pardon me boys...Who knew the Chattanooga Choo Choo was a United States Military Railroad? Won't you choo-choo me home?It's the Chattanooga Choo Choo! Sacks in the boxcarWonder if it's grain for the cavalry horses... Chattanooga DepotDuring Sept-Nov 1863 the Federal forces were besieged at Chattanooga and no rail traffic entered the city. What supplies did manage to get through came from the north side of the Tennessee River on what is known as the "Cracker Line." Once the rebels were forced from the heights of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and put into full retreat, the city became a depot for Sherman's offense in Georgia. We used to own a house on Missionary Ridge and I have walked all over the battle area. Many Union veterans settled in Chattanooga after the war and Chickamauga battlefield (and parts of Chattanooga) became the first National Military Park. The rail depot was in the part of town where one can today find the Chattanooga ChooChoo, a hotel. Not what Glenn Miller had in mindNot the luxurious Chattanooga Choo Choo of Glenn Miller big band fame, that's for sure. (The Gallery, Civil War, Railroads)
Cold Harbor: 1865
... theater of war, Grant's Wilderness Campaign, May-June 1864. Wet plate glass negative by John Reekie. View full size. The knee ... irresolute disaster as a wager of war]. But the taking of Atlanta in September dashed these hopes, and the end of the Confederacy was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/06/2008 - 9:34am -

April 1865. "Cold Harbor, Va. Collecting bones of soldiers killed in the battle." Photograph from the main Eastern theater of war, Grant's Wilderness Campaign, May-June 1864. Wet plate glass negative by John Reekie. View full size. The knee bone's connected to the....Wow, a skeleton wearing army boots. So much decay in less than a year. Wow...That is horrendous. And I thought I've had some bad jobs. YikesThat would be a very unsettling task. Especially with the skeletons still wearing clothing... "Burial Detail"Kristine Kathryn Rusch wrote a short story called "Burial Detail" based on this picture. In it a freed slave is gathering the remains of dead Union soldiers at Cold Harbor while a photographer takes his picture. It's part of a collection titled "Stories for an Enchanted Afternoon" and it really is haunting. Almost as haunting as the picture itself. The Horror of Cold HarborThe night before the so-called Battle of Cold Harbor, Va. --- a headlong attack across difficult terrain against a well-prepared enemy in fixed defenses, which anticipated the murderous conditions of the Western Front fifty years later --- many of the 40,000 Union troops who took part wrote last letters home, final Wills & Testaments, even notes pinned to their clothes in hopes that their bodies might be identified and their fate accurately reported to loved ones back home. As this photo shows, for many men that was a forlorn hope. As one website notes, "In the initial charge, which lasted less than 10 minutes, nearly 7,000 Union soldiers were killed or wounded. Not until World War I would an army suffer such a high casualty rate. Ulysses S. Grant, the Union’s recently appointed general-in-chief, would one day write in his memoirs,’I regret this assault more than any one I ever ordered.' " Cold Harbor AftermathThis one almost did Grant in politically. He was roundly labeled a "butcher" by the northern newspapers. Tactical tragedy, strategic triumphIn his memoirs --- written as he saw his own death swiftly approaching --- Grant wrote, "At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained." But then, as now, the Northern newspapers got it wrong. Grant was no mere "fumbling butcher," and his strategy was about to pay off. Cold Harbor was to be Lee's last victory. As Wikipedia notes in its summation of the battle's aftermath, "the campaign had served Grant's purpose — as foolish as his attack on Cold Harbor was, Lee was trapped. He beat Grant to Petersburg, barely, but spent the remainder of the war (save its final week) defending Richmond behind a fortified trench line. "Although Southerners realized their situation was desperate, they hoped that Lee's stubborn (and bloody) resistance would have political repercussions by causing Abraham Lincoln to lose the 1864 presidential election to a more peace-friendly candidate [former commander of the Army of the Potomac George McClellan, a brilliant trainer of troops and an irresolute disaster as a wager of war]. But the taking of Atlanta in September dashed these hopes, and the end of the Confederacy was just a matter of time." Unlike many earlier Union generals such as McClellan --- who retired from each defeat to lick their wounds and "await reinforcements" --- Grant seized Lee by the lapels and never let go until Appomattox. This, combined with Sherman's "total war" in the March to the Sea that destroyed the economic wherewithal of the South, doomed the Confederacy and brought down the curtain on the nation's bloodiest war. One Final Note... The same month this ghastly, haunting photo was taken --- on Palm Sunday (April 9) 1865 --- Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House, 108 miles east of Cold Harbor. The hideous cost of that vital victory, without which there would have been no United States of America, is here displayed. We owe these unknown soldiers a profound and enduring gratitude. (The Gallery, Civil War)
A Dark Chapter, in Color
... and brick sidings; North facing I suspect. Having lived in Atlanta for many years, I think the dirt streets might be a touch more orange ... have been nearly devoid of pigment. By the summer of 1864 the south – poor in the best of times – had been existing under the ... 
 
Posted by Fredric Falcon - 09/20/2011 - 1:22pm -

Maybe seeing a scene from the slavery era in color will remind us of how very real those times were. Here's my concept of how this scene might have looked. Up above...I love the trompe l'oeil. Great WorkIt's amazing how the fact that all Civil War photography was black and white makes the era seem less real. I have seen CW pictures which were hand-painted in the 19th century, and they still have that unreal look, not at all like modern colorization. May I have permission to use this image in our local Civil War Roundtable newsletter? Beautiful work!Seems very real; especially the stained and moldy wood and brick sidings; North facing I suspect. Having lived in Atlanta for many years, I think the dirt streets might be a touch more orange in color due the red clay so ever present in Georgia. Great job! Amazing!I agree completely. When you look at old black and white photographs it's hard to believe we are seeing scenes from the past that were once completely real and colorful and full of life. It's like seeing an old movie; one tends to believe that "old timers" lived in black and white only, or that their presence is in some level unreal, as false and fictitious as the strange grayscale we see on the scene. But things change dramatically when you see the same scene in full color! Suddenly the old, impersonal buildings and streets come to life, speaking to the viewer of a circumstance and a period of time that, its antiqueness notwhistanding, is as real as our current cotidianity. The bizarre, Kafkaesque scene becomes human again; the buildings stop being props or mere silhouettes and become the work of men; and the ads and messages painted on their walls speak again of the reality current when the photo was taken. We are transported in time; our eyes are privileged to see a scene that had not been truly seen by anyone in over 140 years. You see the scene and wonder: how different will things be 140 years from now? How our great-grandchildren react when they see a plain, two-dimensional image of our era? will they be awed by the simple little facts of daily life captured in that image, will they have the same sentiment of longing we experience at seeing this old relics of a bygone past? What more to say? An excellent job, definitely blends artistic ability with technological improvements. Thank you very much for sharing it with us! Seems so immediateExceptional work again, Fredric. The well chosen colors make the past seem so much more immediate, to color-accustomed eyes. (Before photography, did anyone dream in black and white?) You know what they say --"Those who do not remember the pastel are condemned to repeat it." ThanksPalm Springs John, I never considered that the street dirt should be clay-colored. I've changed it and replace the photo with the upgraded version. Is this more accurate? Too much red? I don't live in the South, so let me know if it's accurate yet. Mike Brown, sure you can use this photo in your newsletter, if it's OK with Dave. I'd like to see it when it's published. Is there any way I can? Thanks for your comments. Newsletter> Mike Brown, sure you can use this photo in your > newsletter, if it's OK with Dave. I'd like to > see it when it's published. Is there any way I can? Most of our members get it in PDF form, so it'll be easy. E-mail your address to wb2jwd@htva.net, and I'll be happy to send it along. A marvelous job with a tough image.Nicely done. Georgia dirt is nearly impossible to colorize (at least for me). It comes in all sorts of shades from bright red to orange to brown – and it changes color based on moisture and heat. At times – like in the dry fall months when this was taken – it dries to a very light –almost white - brown (like baked clay). In reality, the signs and wood would have been nearly devoid of pigment. By the summer of 1864 the south – poor in the best of times – had been existing under the most severe privation and these buildings had been neither painted nor whitewashed in many years. The wood would have been a dark, weathered grey. The brick building at the far right is the Concert Hall, and it sat right up against the main line of the railroads. Years of steam and southern humidity would have made the 365-days-a-year of heavy smoke and pine soot penetrate every crevice of the masonry. The mildew is a nice touch. (I really don’t mean to be critical at all; you’ve done a marvelous job with a tough image.) (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Colorized Photos)
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