Holyland’s Military-Landscape Painting
By Ronald S. Coddington The painted backdrop visible in portraits taken by a young photographer honing his craft in Washington, D.C., is the focus of this installment. During the war,
Tag: d.c.
A Portrait Promised to a Sister?
Compared to most of the Union’s noted Civil War generals, John Fulton Reynolds rates high for skill and ability. West Point educated and a seasoned campaigner in Mexico and the
Lost and Found in the Library of Congress
By Kurt Luther In January 2020, John Banks posted on his Civil War blog a detailed examination of a glass negative in the Library of Congress (LOC) collection, titled, “Washington,
Two New Ventures
When I came into possession of MI in 2013, one of my first orders of business was to establish a presence on social media. Regular posts include sharing images, stories,
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
Red Blankets & Blue Blouses: Faces of Rhode Island’s First Responders, April-June 1861
The wild array of uniforms on display in the Union army during the spring of 1861 exuded a vivid patchwork of color and design. The mishmash of state styles included
New York State Militia in Camp, 1861 and 1862
The 7th New York State Militia The regiment posed for these group portraits at Camp Cameron in Washington, D.C. in 1861. The studio of Mathew B. Brady is believed to
Authentic Farragut: Previously unknown portraits of the Nation’s first admiral come to light
By Chuck Winans and Ronald S. Coddington Pauline Philip was about 8 years old when she met David Farragut. Tall and broad shouldered despite advancing age and the rigors of
The Regiment That Saved the Capital
By Michael J. McAfee Nicknamed the “Silk Stocking Regiment” for the socially elite New Yorkers in its ranks, the 7th New York State Militia was nevertheless a well-equipped, drilled and
Jefferson Davis, Political Soldier
By John O’Brien On Jan. 9, 1861, Mississippi seceded from the Union. Two days later, Jefferson Davis followed his home state, and resigned from the U.S. Senate with a moving