War Photos

Brady in top hat with Heintzelman and staff at Arlington House

From The New-York Times August 17, 1861:

Photographs of the War.

Mr. BRADY, the Photographer, has just returned from Washington with the magnificent series of views of scenes, groups and incidents of the war which he has been making for the last two months. Mr. BRADY, after visiting all the camps in the vicinity of Washington, and taking views of all the most striking scenes, accompanied the Army in its advance into Virginia. He had a full corps of artists and workmen, and embraced every opportunity to add to his collection of illustrative views. He went upon the field of battle at Bull Run, — accompanied HEINTZELMAN’s column into the action, and was caught in the whirl and panic which accompanied the retreat of our Army. We saw him constantly, at every point, before and after the fight, neglecting no opportunity and sparing no labor in the pursuit of his professional object. As the result of his arduous and perilous toil, he has brought back a very large collection of pictures which will do more than the most elaborate description to perpetuate the scenes of that brief campaign. Mr. BRADY was the only photographer on the field, and is entitled to the highest credit for the energy and enterprise which he displayed. This series of pictures has been added to the magnificent collection at his Photographic Gallery, corner of Tenth-street and Broadway.

Early in his career Mathew Brady worked with a man from yesterday’s story. “Beginning in 1841, Brady’s artistic aptitude allowed him to study under the skilled daguerreotypist Samuel F. B. Morse.”

Bull Run Battlefield (LOC - LC-USZ62-57821)

Brady Back from Bull Run