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Battle of North Anna

Battle of North Anna

A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O'Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24–25, 1864, along the North Anna River, the site of a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers lounge on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

Veteran Union war photographer Timothy O'Sullivan worked for the Washington, D.C.–based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O'Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Created: May 1864, published ca. 1866

Medium: Albumen photographic print

Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

Road building

A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Created: May 24, 1864

Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; one half of stereograph

Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

Demolished railroad bridge

A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Created: May 25, 1864

Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; one half of stereograph

Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

Breastworks along North Anna River

A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Created: May 25, 1864

Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; one half of stereograph

Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

Union soldiers bathing in North Anna River

A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Created: May 24–25, 1864

Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; stereograph

Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

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  • Battle of North Anna

    A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O'Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24–25, 1864, along the North Anna River, the site of a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers lounge on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

    Veteran Union war photographer Timothy O'Sullivan worked for the Washington, D.C.–based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O'Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

    Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

    Created: May 1864, published ca. 1866

    Medium: Albumen photographic print

    Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

    Slideshow Featured In
  • Road building

    A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

    Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

    Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

    Created: May 24, 1864

    Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; one half of stereograph

    Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

    Slideshow Featured In
  • Demolished railroad bridge

    A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

    Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

    Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

    Created: May 25, 1864

    Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; one half of stereograph

    Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

    Slideshow Featured In
  • Breastworks along North Anna River

    A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

    Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

    Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

    Created: May 25, 1864

    Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; one half of stereograph

    Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

    Slideshow Featured In
  • Union soldiers bathing in North Anna River

    A series of wet-plate glass images by civilian photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan captures Union activity on May 24 and 25, 1864, along the North Anna River where there was a series of small engagements known collectively as the Battle of North Anna. Soldiers are seen on the Chesterfield Bridge; a party from the 50th New York Engineers builds a road on the south bank of the river while, in the background, Union wagons and horses traverse the canvas pontoon bridge at Jericho Mills; a railroad bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg line stills smolders after Union troops demolished the structure on the afternoon of May 25; soldiers man Union breastworks on the north bank of the river; and, in a moment of repose, the men bathe in the river.

    Veteran northern war photographer Timothy O’Sullivan was working for the Washington D.C.-based photo firm run by Alexander Gardner. O’Sullivan was Gardner's chief photographer working in the field during the last year of the war and he created some of the iconic images of the Overland Campaign.

    Original Author: Timothy H. O'Sullivan

    Created: May 24–25, 1864

    Medium: Wet collodion glass-plate negative; stereograph

    Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division

    Slideshow Featured In