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Enemy’s works as viewed from a Federal position

Morgan collection of Civil War drawings (Library of Congress)

• Published as: The enemy’s works near Yorktown in Harper’s Weekly, May 3, 1862, pp. 280-1.
• Inscribed above image: Rebel camp and earthworks; Men at work in the trenches; Camp among trees; House burnt by the rebels; Rifle pits behind fence. Inscribed below image: signal officer on duty.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Catalog

This envelope and additional information may be found here at the Library of Congress

Civil War envelope showing an eagle carrying an American flag in its claw and a serpent in its beak with motto “The early bird catches the worm” below.

Addressed to Mrs. Sarah Ann Prall, Christianna, Lancaster County, Pa.; hand-canceled; bears 3 cent stamp..

Collection: Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs (Library of Congress)

This envelope and additional information may be found here at the Library of Congress

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Pang & Company Catalog Description:

“Capture of New Orleans.”
Farragut’s Fleet passing the Forts.
This naval scene is a brilliant representation of that famous battle by night, showing the Mississippi squadron, under Commodore Farragut,  passing Forts Philip and Jackson, and the engagement with them and with the Confederate gunboats in the early morning of April 24, 1S62. The terrific fire belched forth from the heavy guns and mortars, the flash of the bursting shells, and the light from blazing fire-rafts, turned adrift to destroy the Union fleet, form a lurid and exciting spectacle, and represent one of the most hotly contested naval battles of the war.
The final victory of the fleet secured the opening of the Lower Mississippi and the surrender of the city of New Orleans to the Union forces.

Image was digitally enhanced for fade correction, contrast, brightness, and color.

Capture of New Orleans by Julian Oliver Davidson; Fac-simile Print by L. Prang and Company; Copyright 1886 by L. Prang & Co., Boston

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

This drawing is located here on the Library of Congress website.

Camp of the Berdan Sharpshooters before Yorktown, Va, April 1862, by Alfred R. Waud.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

This drawing is located here on the Library of Congress website.

Hilton Head, S.C. Dock built by Federal troops;  April 1862; photo by Timothy H O’Sullivan.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

This drawing is located here on the Library of Congress website.

Sketch of a group of Collis’ Zouaves – Gen. Banks bodyguard, now attached to Col. Geary command, near Manassas Gap.

“Officers & non-commissioned officers of Collis’ Zouaves. General Banks’ bodyguard. Camp Pardee, near Upperville, Va.” on mount.

1862 April 17 by Edwin Forbes.

Morgan collection of Civil War drawings (Library of Congress)

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

This drawing is located here on the Library of Congress website.

Portion of Rebel battery at Wynns Mill. The gun which wounded Lieut. Wagner. Topographical Engineer.

Artist: Alfred R. Waud.

This drawing and additional information may be found here at the Library of Congress

Additional Info related to the drawing:

The following incident is given in illustration of the hazards common to the duty of a topographical engineer. My especial duty along the lines was to direct the running [of] short base lines with a steel tape carried by two soldiers in a quick trot. F.W. Dorr with a plane table would occupy the ends of the base and rapidly sight the lines of redoubt batteries or breastworks drawing determining lines. A very few minutes were given to each station but one unfortunate day Lieut. Wagner of the Corps of Topographical Engineers came up to the instrument “on station” and engaged Dorr in conversation [within sight of] a small battery about a thousand feet distant. The opportunity was seized by the Confederates manning the battery who opened fire upon the group about the plane table, comprising besides Dorr and Wagner, a number of pickets and my chainmen. The first shell fired, a percussion, struck the tripod and exploding literally blew up the whole group. Dorr escaped with a scratch but Wagner and one of my chainmen were mortally wounded [???] dying in two days. Three men were killed outright and several slightly wounded. Nothing was left of the plane table, and the sheet was torn in half and sprinkled with Wagner’s blood. Only the telescope of the alhidade was found. This was the last plane table work done during the campaign and thereafter reconnaissances were made with compass and [chain?] instruments. (War Record of J. W. Donn)

West Point Class of 1859 – Orlando G. Wagner: Topographical Engineer; served in New Mexico, then was killed fighting for the Union in the War between the States, within three years of graduating.

1829 (Bvt. Captain, Sep. 10, 1861,  for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Campaign in Western Virginia)

Jan. 20 to Feb., 1862; and in the Virginia Peninsular Campaign as Asst. Top. Engineer (Army of the Potomac), Mar.-Apr., 1862, being engaged in the Siege of Yorktown, Apr. 5‑16, 1862, when he was Mortally Wounded while reconnoitring the enemy’s works.  Died Apr. 21, 1862, of Wound received before Yorktown, Va.: Aged 25.

(Bvt. Major, Apr. 17, 1862, for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Siege of Yorktown, Va., where he was Mortally Wounded while Reconnoitring the Enemy’s Works)

Civil War envelope for Massachusetts Thirteenth Regiment Rifles showing Lady Justice dressed in an American flag pattern

Addressed to Miss Lydia H. Weymouth, No. Braintree, Mass.; postmarked Hancock, Dec.; bearing 3 cent stamp.

Collection: Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs (Library of Congress)

This envelope and additional information may be found here at the Library of Congress