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 Yorktown encampment / artist: Alfred Waud



The American Civil War is typically regarded as the first major world battle that was "observed" by the general population while it occured. It is nowadays also commonly held belief that the images the average citizen saw of that conflagration (both in the USA and in Europe) were from the photographs taken by Matthew Brady and other photogpraphers during the 1860s. Yet ~truth be known~ many (if not most) of the photographs taken under contract for the War Department remained as classified documents well into the latter part of the 19th century. Then, exposure then was left to artists and engravers.
Our Special Artist / artist: Winslow Homer

Winslow Homer did this somewhat humorous portrayal
of Alfred Waud as he sketched soldiers in the campsite
These "Specials" (as they were known) went into the battlefront as artist/reporters for Harper's Illustrated Weekly, Leslie's and other such newspapers. It was from the images they produced (not that of the war photographers) that Americans (Yankee and Confederate) as well as Euorpeans were given their images of that war.
A few such artists, (Alfred Waud, his brother William, and Edwin Forbes), managed to carve niche markets for themselves as artists depicting the Civil War, using their rough sketches as well as diaries to earn a living during the rest of the century. Otherwise, many of the artists went unrecognized in their day.

Even now, some 150 years later, few show suitable recognition and respect for those who provided for the world, such an extensive collection of work depicting such a major world event. Even many of the magazines and periodicals devoted to Civil War information and memoribilia often fail to grant recognition to the works of these artists.
This page will strive to correct that omission.


Punishment in camp / artist: Alfred Waud


On the battlefront, commanders had to deal with an army that was comprised of volunteers, conscripted soldiers and men paid to stand in for others who remained at home. It was not a professional army. Yet discipline had to be maintained, somehow. Men who committed lesser offenses to the orderly operation of a camp, (caught deserting, or drunk or committing petty theft) were dealt with in part by punishment through humlitation and temporary confinement.
Your comments, feedback, links to other sites about Civil War artists are welcome

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LEGAL & DISCLAIMER NOTICE: ©: 1999-2002 / Will Brady // I hope you’ve found this site interesting, even thought provoking. Most of the links are up-to-date, but I can't always guarantee the state of activity for other sites. Please don't write to me about the content of sites linked from here. On the other hand, please let me know of any inactive links. Constructive comments, suggested links to add, are welcome.
This website is maintained by Will Brady / wbrady@rondak.org / Last update: 4 february 2002