Civil War Siege Warfare Union Mortar Battery Photograph by George N. Barnard, Yorktown 1862

George Barnard

Photograph

Barnard, George N. Battery No. 4 Near Yorktown, 1862, documents Union siege artillery operations during the Peninsula Campaign, providing visual evidence of large-scale military engineering and heavy ordnance deployment under General George B. McClellan’s command. The photograph supports research into Civil War siege warfare, artillery technology, and the logistical systems required to construct and operate fortified gun positions against Confederate defenses. Produced as part of Brady’s Album Gallery series, the image contributes to the early photographic record of organized military campaigns and the material infrastructure of Union war strategy.
Brady’s Album Gallery No. 375. Battery No. 4 Near Yorktown Mounting 13 inch Mortars each weighing 20,000 pounds, East South End. Copyright 1862 Barnard & Gibson. Albumen photograph. The composition shows three large 13-inch mortars installed in prepared earthen emplacements, dominating the foreground with their elevated barrels and reinforced platforms. Several Union soldiers in uniform, wearing kepi caps, stand adjacent to the artillery pieces, their scale emphasizing the massive size of the weapons. The mortars are positioned within a constructed battery, with visible earthworks and structured placement indicating deliberate engineering design. These siege guns were capable of firing heavy explosive shells in high arcs intended to penetrate or bypass fortified defensive positions. The photograph records both the physical construction of the battery and the personnel assigned to operate it.
The image originates from the Union Army’s methodical approach to siege warfare during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, when extensive artillery networks were assembled to pressure Confederate fortifications at Yorktown. The use of large-caliber mortars reflects the increasing reliance on industrial-scale weaponry and engineered battlefield environments. Barnard’s photographs, disseminated through Brady’s publishing enterprise, formed part of a systematic effort to document the war visually, shaping contemporary and later understanding of the scale and organization of Civil War military operations. One light vertical crease at center; otherwise very good condition. A strong visual record of Union artillery power and siege methodology during a critical early campaign of the war.

Item #11903

Price: $420.00