William Tecumseh Sherman’s campaign through South Carolina in February 1865 is captured in this depiction of Union troops moving through McPhersonville as buildings burn in the background. The march formed part of a broader strategy to break the Confederacy’s capacity to wage war by targeting infrastructure and supply lines. Columns of soldiers and mounted officers advance steadily while smoke rises over the town, illustrating the hard war tactics that hastened the Confederacy’s collapse in the final months of the Civil War.
General French, Taken in Camp on the Chickahominy, 29th of May, 1862
William Henry French, an officer in the U.S. Army’s 2nd Mounted Artillery, stands outside his field tent along the Chickahominy River in May 1862 during the American Civil War. A U.S. flag hangs at the entrance while the general appears in full uniform with sword at his side. Images like this were often produced by studios connected to Mathew B. Brady, whose photographers documented Union officers and soldiers during the war, creating some of the most enduring visual records of the conflict.
Soldiers of the 79th New York at Camp
Soldiers of the 79th New York Infantry Regiment gather outside a canvas tent during the American Civil War. The regiment, often known as the “Highlanders,” was organized in New York City and took part in several major campaigns of the Union Army. Images like this offer a look at everyday life in a Union army camp, where soldiers spent long stretches of time resting, organizing supplies, and preparing for the next march or engagement.