Civil War Album

BARNARD, George N. (1819-1902): Savannah, Ga. No. 2.

[New York: 1866]. Albumen photograph from a negative taken in 1866, 10 x 14 inches, on original two-tone gilt-edged thin card mount, 16 1/8 x 20 inches, with plate title and photographer's credit. Image slightly faded. A stunning image from Barnard's 'Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign', an album which is one of the two greatest photographic monuments to the Civil War and 'a landmark in the history of photography' (Keith F. Davis). A contemporary reviewer wrote of this image and its companions: 'These photographs... surpass any other photographic views which have been produced in this country - whether relating to the war or otherwise' ('Harper's Weekly', 8 December, 1866, p.771) This image comes from George N. Barnard's album titled Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign, embracing scenes of the occupation of Nashville, the great battles around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, the campaign of Atlanta, March to the Sea, and the Great Raid through the Carolinas (1866). This album, togther with Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the Civil War (1866) are the two greatest photographic monuments of the Civil War. Between them, they contain some of the most famous images of the War. The present image offers a poignant reminder of the trail of destruction left across the Confederacy by General William T. Sherman's army in 1864 to 1865 during his famous campaign from Nashville to Chattanooga then Atlanta and so to Savannah and the sea, then by-passing Charleston, north to Columbia. In the meantime a smaller force had occupied Charleston and Fort Sumter. To the North, the military campaign was brilliant, bold and decisive - an event worthy of the present monumental album. To the South, it was vicious, bloody and destructive. Cf. De Renne p.1317; cf. Howes B150, "b."; cf. Sabin 3462; cf. Taft Photography and the American Scene pp.232 & 486. See also: George N. Barnard Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign... with a new preface by Beaumont Newhall New York: 1977 Keith F. Davis. George N. Barnard Photographer of Sherman's Campaign Kansas City, Miss.: 1990

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BARNARD, George N. (1819-1902): Savannah, Ga. No. 1. [Pl. 49]

[New York: 1866]. Albumen photograph from a negative taken in 1866, 10 x 13 inches, on original two-tone gilt-edged thin card mount, 16 1/8 x 20 inches, with plate title and photographer's credit. A fine copy of a stunning image from Barnard's 'Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign', an album which is one of the two greatest photographic monuments to the Civil War and 'a landmark in the history of photography' (Keith F. Davis). A contemporary reviewer wrote of this image and its companions: 'These photographs... surpass any other photographic views which have been produced in this country - whether relating to the war or otherwise' ('Harper's Weekly', 8 December, 1866, p.771) This image comes from George N. Barnard's album titled Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign, embracing scenes of the occupation of Nashville, the great battles around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, the campaign of Atlanta, March to the Sea, and the Great Raid through the Carolinas (1866). This album, togther with Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the Civil War (1866) are the two greatest photographic monuments of the Civil War. Between them, they contain some of the most famous images of the War. This radiant example of this photograph shows the warehouses on the Savannah River, which may well have contained the 250,000 bales of cotton that Sherman mentioned in the telegram to Lincoln in which he offered Savannah as a Christmas present. It is in any event a wonderful photograph illustrating one of the great non-casualties of the war. When Sherman arrived at the outskirts of Savannah and connected with the U. S. Naval forces on the coast, the destruction and agony of the city appeared to be inevitable. However, the Conferate troops evacuated the city and the Mayor surrendered, and Savannah was spared. The bright sunny day enhanced by thick, fast moving clouds seems to celebrate the great military non-event. (Note the double-wheeled steamboat docked on the river). Cf. De Renne p.1317; cf. Howes B150, "b."; cf. Sabin 3462; cf. Taft Photography and the American Scene pp.232 & 486. See also: George N. Barnard Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign... with a new preface by Beaumont Newhall New York: 1977 Keith F. Davis. George N. Barnard Photographer of Sherman's Campaign Kansas City, Miss.: 1990

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BARNARD, George N. (1819-1902): Savannah, Ga. No. 2. [Pl. 50]

[New York: 1866]. Albumen photograph from a negative taken in 1866, 10 x 13 inches, on original two-tone gilt-edged thin card mount, 16 1/8 x 20 inches, with plate title and photographer's credit. A fine copy of a stunning image from Barnard's 'Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign', an album which is one of the two greatest photographic monuments to the Civil War and 'a landmark in the history of photography' (Keith F. Davis). A contemporary reviewer wrote of this image and its companions: 'These photographs... surpass any other photographic views which have been produced in this country - whether relating to the war or otherwise' ('Harper's Weekly', 8 December, 1866, p.771) This image comes from George N. Barnard's album titled Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign, embracing scenes of the occupation of Nashville, the great battles around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, the campaign of Atlanta, March to the Sea, and the Great Raid through the Carolinas (1866). This album, togther with Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the Civil War (1866) are the two greatest photographic monuments of the Civil War. Between them, they contain some of the most famous images of the War. This strikingly sharp example of Barnard's 2nd view of the Savannah River, warehouses and shipping offices demonstrates one of the remarkable non-events of Sherman's March to the Sea: the non-destruction of Savannah. Here we see the intact buildings and ships that served the cotton trade. The building in the foreground is the "New York Side Wheel Steam Ship Office". In the distance we see the Atlantic. Barnard had clearly taken his camera to the top of a tall building to capture the beautiful sky and the absence of Union warships, who might well have been called upon to bombard the city from this very spot. Cf. De Renne p.1317; cf. Howes B150, "b."; cf. Sabin 3462; cf. Taft Photography and the American Scene pp.232 & 486. See also: George N. Barnard Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign... with a new preface by Beaumont Newhall New York: 1977 Keith F. Davis. George N. Barnard Photographer of Sherman's Campaign Kansas City, Miss.: 1990

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BARNARD, George N. (1819-1902): Fountain Savannah, Ga. [Pl. 51]

[New York: 1866]. Albumen photograph from a negative taken in 1866, 10 x 13 inches, on original two-tone gilt-edged thin card mount, 16 1/8 x 20 inches, with plate title and photographer's credit. A fine copy of a stunning image from Barnard's 'Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign', an album which is one of the two greatest photographic monuments to the Civil War and 'a landmark in the history of photography' (Keith F. Davis). A contemporary reviewer wrote of this image and its companions: 'These photographs... surpass any other photographic views which have been produced in this country - whether relating to the war or otherwise' ('Harper's Weekly', 8 December, 1866, p.771) This image comes from George N. Barnard's album titled Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign, embracing scenes of the occupation of Nashville, the great battles around Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, the campaign of Atlanta, March to the Sea, and the Great Raid through the Carolinas (1866). This album, togther with Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the Civil War (1866) are the two greatest photographic monuments of the Civil War. Between them, they contain some of the most famous images of the War. Though some of Barnard's photographs in this series offer poignant reminders of the trail of destruction left across the Confederacy by General William T. Sherman's army in 1864 to 1865, the photographs in Savannah record that beautiful city's avoidance of destruction. The Confederate Army evacuation and subsequent civilian surrender saved Savannah from the destruction of bombardment and the agony of siege. This splendid fountain (Forsyth Park Fountain, which is still standing) in a peaceful park, handsomely photographed by Barnard, evokes the blessings of peace and creativity rather than the viciousness of war. Two Federal soldiers can be seen enjoying the beauty of the scene in the background. Cf. De Renne p.1317; cf. Howes B150, "b."; cf. Sabin 3462; cf. Taft Photography and the American Scene pp.232 & 486. See also: George N. Barnard Photographic Views of Sherman's Campaign... with a new preface by Beaumont Newhall New York: 1977 Keith F. Davis. George N. Barnard Photographer of Sherman's Campaign Kansas City, Miss.: 1990

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