Photograph by Ed Pollard, Hasselblad H4D50 - 2012.

Images(3)

Headquarters of General McClellan, Camp Winfield Scott, Near Yorktown

Artist Mathew B. Brady (American, 1823-1896)

CultureAmerican

DateMay 7, 1862

MediumAlbumen print

DimensionsOverall, Image: 3 1/16 × 4 3/16 in. (7.8 × 10.6 cm)
Overall: 4 5/8 × 6 in. (11.7 × 15.2 cm)
Overall, Mat: 16 × 17 in. (40.6 × 43.2 cm)

Credit LineGift of David L. Hack and Museum purchase, with funds from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., by exchange

Object number98.32.245

Collections

Photography

Not on view

DescriptionThe David L. Hack Civil War Photography Collection. A photograph of an encampment of soldiers. In the foreground there is a field with two horses, a fence and several men leaning upon the fence. In the background there are several rows of tents, men, and trees. This is from _Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the War_ (Hack Collection No. 2].

Label TextJames F. Gibson American, 1828–1905 Headquarters of General McClellan, Camp Winfield Scott, Near Yorktown, May 7, 1862, 1862 Albumen print (photograph) In the spring of 1862, General George McClellan led the Army of the Potomac in a march up the Virginia Peninsula in hopes of capturing Richmond. While camped near Yorktown on April 25, Union soldier George Leavitt wrote home to his father in Maine: I like the camp life much better than being in Barracks. We have a first-rate tent with a nice carpet of pine boughs. We call them Soldiers’ feathers. They make a very soft bed. We have fine army pies served out to us every day together with salt-pork & beef, fresh meat twice a week. Some days we have nothing but army pies but have plenty of coffee. Coffee is a great institution. Deprive us this, and we are good for nothing. Leavitt died four months later during the Second Battle of Bull Run. Gift of David L. Hack and Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., by exchange 98.32.245