Reverse Engineering an Image Macro
By Kurt Luther Most of the time, Civil War photo sleuthing feels like searching for a needle in vast haystacks of books, photo collections and websites. And, we’d be thrilled
Tag: infantry
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
Officer Identified Using Classic Research and CWPS
By Kurt Luther Last issue, we announced our Civil War Photo Sleuth (CWPS) software, combining technology and community to create a powerful new way to identify unknown soldiers in portraits.
Unsung Pioneer Photo Collector: Samuel Crocker Lawrence and the Medford Collection
By Ronald S. Coddington Veterans have always told war stories. Those who survived the Civil War were no exception, and they number among the earliest to recall their service through
Crashing Into Gordon’s Line at Appomattox
The flag of the 46th Virginia Infantry figured prominently on three occasions during the life of the regiment. Yankee fire shattered the staff in two and 18 bullet holes were
Merrill Carbine Leads to a Soldier’s Identification
By Kurt Luther In this edition of Photo Sleuth, we present another of our most compelling reader-submitted stories. This submission comes from Frederick Gaede. An author of countless articles for
A Ditch Too Far
The wide defensive ditch that reinforced Stockade Redan and its Confederate garrison at Vicksburg, Miss., measured six feet deep and about twice as wide. Akin to a grave, the furrow
Unknown No More: A Georgia Corporal and His Wife Are Identified
By Kurt Luther Since this column first appeared two years ago, we have often emphasized the collaborative, participatory and community-oriented character of photo sleuthing. At the end of each column,
A Rare Image of Historical Significance
All Civil War photographs can be arranged on a broad spectrum of historical significance. Where they fall is determined by criteria that include provenance, subject and content, as well as
Personal Encounter in The Wilderness
The thick undergrowth of The Wilderness made it almost impossible to determine friend or foe during the battle on May 6, 1864. Federal troops powered through dense woods and rebel