Guidebook to Our American Journey
I spend considerable time peering into the faces of a generation of Americans who lived and died long before I came into this world. Their likenesses, captured by photographic artists
Tag: photography
No Mustaches or Imperials Allowed
Sporting a beard and a hint of a smile, this naval 1st assistant engineer dresses in an 1852 regulation uniform. The general order, dated March 8, 1852, provides detailed guidelines
On 40 Years
The founding of MI sits between two cultural phenomena spread across four decades. On one side lay the writings of Bruce Catton and the Civil War centennial; on the other,
The Rich History of a Fort in Soldier Portraits
The list of officers who passed through Michigan’s Fort Mackinac in antebellum times on their way to becoming Civil War generals might surprise you. On the Union side, Edwin Vose
Bearskin and Brass: A Stylish Bay Stater
At first glance, the mammoth bearskin cap parked on the table next to this soldier is an attention-grabber. Though the name of its wearer is currently lost in time, the
A Corcoran Legionnaire
The Irish population in the sprawling metropolis of Buffalo, N.Y., and its environs included many personalities. One of its most honorable members, shoemaker Michael G. Stapleton, enjoyed a sterling reputation
Foundation of the Rock
Wise. Calm. Self-poised. Steadfast. These words were used by a comrade and biographer of George Henry Thomas to describe the venerable soldier long after he had been christened with the
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
Heydey of Hope
Much has been written about John Pelham’s courage on the battlefield of Fredericksburg and his mortal wounding in the cavalry fight at Kelly’s Ford. Far less has been recorded about
The Uniform That Demoralized a Regiment
This Brooklynite in the 14th Regiment, New York State Militia, is dressed in a newly designed uniform that had unexpected consequences. A brigade inspector reported on Oct. 18, 1858: “This
