War and Politics:
Lincoln, Virginia and the Election of 1864
How did the bloody military stalemate in Virginia affect the presidential election of 1864?
Also, how did candidates and generals respond to events during that long summer?
Images of Virginia Campaigns of 1864
All images courtesy of the Library of Congress
Army of the Potomac at the start of the Overland Campaign, Crossing the Rapidan River at Germanna Ford
May 4, 1864
Photograph by Timothy O'Sullivan
Sketch by Edwin Forbes
End of the Battle of the Wilderness
Grant's forces continue offensive southward toward Spotsylvania
May 7, 1864
Sketch by Edwin Forbes
Burial of the dead from the Battle of Harris' Farm
Part of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 20, 1864
Photograph by Timothy O'Sullivan
Engraving Recreation for Mass Production
“Now, boys, we’ve got ’em!”
The last words of Col. James McMahon, 164th New York
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 3, 1864
Sketch by Alfred Waud
The 6th Corps--Battle of the Wilderness--fighting in the woods
May 7, 1864
Sketch by Edwin Forbes
General Grant holding a Council of War
Outside Massaponax Church in Spotsylvania County
May 21, 1864
Photograph by Timothy O'Sullivan
The Bucktail's Last Shot -from the Battle of Bethesda Church
June 8, 1864
Sketch by Edwin Forbes
The Battle of Cold Harbor (Bomb Proofs)
June 8, 1864
Sketch by Edwin Forbes
The Burial Party on the battlefield of Cold Harbor
Battle May 31 -June 12, 1864
Burial in April 1865
Photograph by John Reekie
Ruins of the Virginia Military Institute
Result of Raid by Union General Hunter/ Shenandoah Valley Campaign
June 12, 1864
Photograph courtesy of VMI Archives
Plan of the Rebel Attack on Washington, D.C.
Under leadership of Confederate General Jubal Early
July 11-12, 1864
Official plan made in September 1864 in the office of Col. Alexander, U.S.A
(Chief Engineer of the Defenses of Washington)
Battle of the Crater (Petersburg, Virginia)
Scene of the Explosion Saturday July 30th
July 30, 1864
Sketch by Alfred R. Waud
Union occupied Crater in Petersburg
As it appeared in 1865
Photograph courtesy of the National Archives
Sheridan's Wagon Trains in the Valley. Early Morning Mist and Smoke.
October 1864
Sketch by Alfred R. Waud
Sheridan's Army following Early up the Shenandoah Valley
August-October 1864
Sketch by Alfred R. Waud