Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

[OleMissRebel]

Interesting picture. Sheridan's men and Early's men in the same shot. I did my best to count the Rebs in the pic and came up with 196 of them. The histories report that Early had 1591 captured or missing. So it looks like a decent chunk of those men are in this photo.

[toolmaker1967]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Group of federals sitting down in front. I wounder if the guy in middle, hand on his pards shoulder is consoling over a lost comrad.
david

[GermanDraftee]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Nice image with a mix of federals: Cavalry in the foreground (only one with full gear, but the hat brass on the fella facing the camara says cavalry) and infantry with stacked arms in the middle. Then the prisoners and what looks to be "higher-ups" on the hill. Intersting mix of tentage, as well.

I like the creativity with the shelter-half tents. One pair has set up using a bush to block off one end. Another, maybe a single soldier's, seems to have set up his half with his blanket providing extra shelter.

Not that knowledgeable about photography of the era, so I am left wondering how the "ghostly" image of the horse on the right got there? If it was moving, wouldn't it have come out as a blur?

[plankholder]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

The "ghost" images are caused by movement of the subject. The wet plate process uses sunlight to burn an image in silver nitrate on a glass(ambrotype) iron(ferrotype) or a mirror(dagurotype, mainly pre-war) and requires a fairly long exsposure time. The photographer literally was the shutter, covering the lens after an appropriate exsposure time, depending on lighting conditions. When you see a period image that looks blurred,smeared or transparent-the subject moved for one rason or another.-ELI GEERY

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,

That is a great photo, the man in the second picture furthest to the right is wearing a state jacket. There also appears to be another soldier in the third picture wearing a jacket fourth from the left. Also the man furthest on the left is wearing a infantry frock coat. What I find interesting is the lack of cavalry shell jackets. I now the sack coat is more comfortable, but I would think you might see at least one.

[DougCooper]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Note the shelter tents in the middle of the photo - all have bushes/foilage either placed on one end or were pitched up against a bush. Pretty smart.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,

Does any one know how the photographer was? It has a similar set up as a picture of Federal soldiers in Virginia, and I was wondering if it was taken by the same photographer.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,

Does any one know how the photographer was? It has a similar set up as a picture of Federal soldiers in Virginia, and I was wondering if it was taken by the same photographer.

The information from the LOC doesn't say who the photographer was. Although I'd bet it is the same photographer who took the photo you just shared.

[roundshot]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

The latter photo was taken at White House landing on the Pamunkey River in May 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign. I've always thought the so-called "Fisher's Hill photo" was mislabled, and probably from the White House series as well. The Sibley's and other large tents seem to indicate this and the composition is similar.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

The latter photo was taken at White House landing on the Pamunkey River in May 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign. I've always thought the so-called "Fisher's Hill photo" was mislabled, and probably from the White House series as well. The Sibley's and other large tents seem to indicate this and the composition is similar.

Perhaps, but the mixture of Federal infantry and cavalry in this photo does go along with them being under Sheridan's command in the Valley.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

The latter photo was taken at White House landing on the Pamunkey River in May 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign. I've always thought the so-called "Fisher's Hill photo" was mislabled, and probably from the White House series as well. The Sibley's and other large tents seem to indicate this and the composition is similar.

Perhaps, but the mixture of Federal infantry and cavalry in this photo does go along with them being under Sheridan's command in the Valley as labeled.

Also, the armed cavalryman looks like he is armed with a Spencer carbine, which I don't think was yet used in May 62.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,

I think the carbine that you are looking at is a Sharps Carbine. I am not saying that the photo is 1862 or 1864, I am just saying that I think it is a Sharps.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,

I think the carbine that you are looking at is a Sharps Carbine. I am not saying that the photo is 1862 or 1864, I am just saying that I think it is a Sharps.

I couldn't tell whether it was a Spencer or a Sharps. They look so dang similar. But now that I look at it, you are definitely right. It's a Sharps carbine. So it's plausible it could be 1862.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,

I think the picture was taken in 1864, because in 1862 you would have seen the cavalry in shell jackets mainly. But as the war progressed these shell jackets were replaced by the Federal issue sack coat, and since I am unable to find a single cavalry shell I believe the photo was taken in 1864.

[OleMissRebel]

Re: Confederate's captured at Fisher's Hill

Hi,
I believe the photo was taken in 1864.

Me too. I think these are Sheridan and Early's men.