Titled How Union Soldiers Got Their Mail, Taken Before Petersburg, August 1864. This 1910 dated photographic print was part of an advertising portfolio especially done to promote the soon to be published, monumental 10 volume work titled, "The Photographic History of the Civil War," Francis T. Miller, editor in chief. The book set was issued in 1911 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Overall size is 11 x 12 1/8, image size is 7 1/2 x 9 1/2. Imprint below the image, Copyright, 1910, by the Patriot Publishing Co., Springfield, Mass. From the Photographic History of the Civil War, Published by Review of Reviews Co.

Includes the following descriptive text below the image: A neighborly group in the heat of the war. In this photograph all is serene. The hot sun blazes down on the little post office with torrid heat. The picture is so vivid that you can almost smell the glorious pungent odor of the pines. Here the men have come eagerly to get letters and packages from home. This is indeed far removed from the ideal picture of the soldier's life. These boyish veterans have no time to look spruce and neat. They are weary of the war, and the glory of the soldier's life means plain hard work to them. Back of this peaceful scene the guns are thundering from the powerful fortifications of both armies. Both realize that here must be fought the decisive action of the war, here the fate of Richmond must be determined. The Army of the Potomac is beseiging Petersburg. That town, strongly intrenched by the Confederates, protected the road to Richmond. The soldiers in this scene are comfortable, fed and clothed from Northern depots. But the defenders of the South are battling with famine as well as the human enemy, for the Federal forces have made raids on their railroads and cut off their supplies. They had few manufacturing centers, and those were farther South.

Negro servant in the center of the view. Excellent condition.

If you can't afford to buy the expensive, original Civil War date albumen photograph, that is if you can even find one, this authentic 1910 Miller photographic print is very reasonably priced and would make a nice addition to your collection.